Bullying, Other Forms of Peer Harassment, and Victimization in the Schools

ABSTRACT

Bullying and harassment are pervasive problems in our schools, affecting at least 70% of the student body. For years these behaviors have been overlooked, ignored, or viewed as part of «normal» development. However, we now know that these actions can have significant adverse effects on both perpetrators and victims. The research contained in this volume focuses primarily on the assessment and understanding of the most salient aspects of the problem, and the discussion thereby has substantial implications for intervention. Based on the contents, important directions for research and practice are identified. The article concludes with suggestions regarding the need to make changes in the culture and climate of our schools, using an expanded, ecological, and developmental perspective so these organizations are safe, caring, supportive places of academic, social, and emotional learning.

Key Words:

• Bullying
• peer aggression
• victimization
• prevalence and normalization
• social and emotional learning