BULLYING Some Causes and Effects

Conclusion of What Gives Rise to Bullying?

Unfortunately, such methods often seem to work. Shelley Hymel, associate education dean at the University of British Columbia, Canada, has been studying child behavior for two decades. She says:  "We've got kids who are figuring out how to play the game and unfortunately, bullying works.  They get what they want-they get power, status and attention."

Another factor that helps bullying to thrive is a lack of supervision. Many victims feel that they have no place to turn-and the tragedy is that in most cases they are right. Debra Pepler, director of  LaMarsh Centre for Research  on Violence and Conflict Resolution at Toronto's York University, studied students in a school-yard situation and found that teachers, detect and stop only about 4 percent of bullying incidents.

Yet, Dr. Pepler believes that intervention is crucial.  She says:  "Children are incapable of solving the problem because it's about power, and each time a bully picks on someone, the bully's power is enforced."

So why aren't most cases of bullying reported? Because victims of bullying are convinced  that if they report the problem, it will only get worse. Thus, to some extent,  many young people spend their school years in a permanent state of anxiety and insecurity. What are the effects of living that way? 

Next time:  BULLYING Some Causes and Effects - Physical and Emotional Effects

From the Awake! magazine, 2003