Listening to Shy Voices: Shy Adolescents' Experiences with Being Bullied at School

Abstract

This study examined bullying related to adolescents exhibiting shyness as an emotional and behavioral problem in the school context. It is based on in-depth interviews and observations of severely shy girls between the ages of 14 and 18 years. Given this group of students' difficulties with social skills, peer rejection, and victimization, we sought to explore (a) the form that bullying takes, (b) the genders commonly represented among aggressors, and (c) the reasons that shy adolescents give for being bullied. Results show that shy adolescents perceive a nonsupportive class environment to be a primary explanation for why they are bullied, and relational bullying is the dominant form of bullying exclusion.

Keywords:

• shyness
• bullying
• emotional and behavioral problems
• adolescence