On September 22, 2010, Tyler Clementi wrote his last post on Facebook: "Jumping off the gw bridge sorry" (Pitts, 2010). Hours later, Tyler jumped to his death into the Hudson River. The primary motivation for Tyler's suicide was the distress he felt when his roommate streamed online a video of Tyler's romantic encounter with a male classmate (Pitts, 2010). Tyler was the most recent of several suicides due to bullying regarding sexual orientation: Asher Brown, Seth Walsh, and Billy Lucas also ended their lives after being harassed repeatedly for being gay (Martinez, 2010; Pitts, 2010). Recent research has shown an increase of bullying across the board- and not just in schools, but in workplaces, and online as well (Elledge, et al., 2010; Sperry, 2010; Katzer, et al., 2009). People are targeted for being "different," whether that difference is in societally-driven conceptions of masculinity or femininity, or for being overweight, or being too smart.
What Is Bullying?
The American Psychological Association [APA] considers bullying to be "aggressive behavior that is intended to cause harm or distress, occurs repeatedly over time, and occurs in a relationship in which there is an imbalance of power or strength" ("Bullying," 2005). Anyone can be a victim of bullying- it is not a situation reserved for the football captain picking on the chess club member, as so many 80s movies have depicted (see every John Hughes movie ever made). However, there are risk factors for both bullies and those who are bullied. Bullies can be impulsive, have dominant personalities, and are quick to flaunt rules ("Bullying," 2005); their home life may also be a factor, as some children who bully others have a lack of parental supervision, and lack of warmth in parental situations ("Bullying," 2005). Victims of bullying are usually cautious, socially insecure, and have trouble standing up for themselves to their peers ("Bullying," 2005). Victims of abuse, regardless of what kind, are also at higher risk for bullying ("Bullying," 2005).
Effects of Bullying
While not every person who is bullied is driven to commit suicide, research has shown that bullying victims report higher levels of depression (Wang, J., Iannotti, R. J. & Nansel, T. R., 2009). Researchers are also exploring the effects bullying can have on those other than the target- bystanders and even the people doing the bullying (Rivers & Noret, 2010). Bullying may lead to other behaviors such as skipping school and drug use ("Bullying," 2005), sometimes exhibited by both the bully and the victim. In his book Bullying at school: What we know and what we can do, Dan Olweus, PhD, describes a "bullying circle," which illustrates how people who are around bullying, if not active participants, are impacted by it ("School Bullying," n.d.). Everyone who witnesses bullying is involved, whether or not he is the tormentor.
What Can We Do?
There is, unfortunately, no quick fix for bullying. Research shows that the most effective strategies are comprehensive, and include "open dialogue about bullying and its consequences via classroom discussions, writing workshops, role plays, and parent-teacher meetings" ("Bullying," 2005), which requires participation by students, teachers and parents. As with most violence-prevention techniques, it is important to reinforce positive behaviors at home. Solutions for adult bullying are little more complex, however, because there is no authority figure who can stand in to step up for the victim. In these cases, communication and understanding are key (Dingfelder, 2006). By understanding what is at the root of bullying behavior, whether it is fear, ignorance, or anger, we can help to de-escalate volatile situations, and maybe prevent future tragedies from occurring.
References:
American Psychological Association. (2005). Bullying. Retrieved October 16, 2010, from http://www.apa.org/about/gr/issues/cyf/bullying-briefing.aspx
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). School bullying is nothing new, but psychologists identify new ways to prevent it. Retrieved October 16, 2010, from http://www.apa.org/research/action/bullying.aspx
Dingfelder, S. F. (2006). Banishing bullying: Communication training, well-publicized policies and even theater productions help reduce interpersonal aggression in workplaces. Retrieved October 16, 2010, from http://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug06/banishing.aspx
Elledge, L. C., Cavell, T. A., Ogle, N. T., Malcom, K. T., Newgent, R. A. & Faith, M. A. (2010). History of peer victimization and children's response to school bullying. School Psychology Quarterly, 25(2), 129-141.
Katzer, C., Fetchenhauer, D. & Belschak, F. (2009). Cyberbullying: Who are the victims? A comparison of victimization in internet chatrooms and victimization in schools. Journal of Media Psychology, 21(1), 25-36.
Martinez, E. (2010, September 30). Seth Walsh: Gay 13-year-old hangs self after reported bullying. Retrieved October 16, 2010, from http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20018111-504083.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody
Pitts, B. (2010, September 30). Gay student's death highlights troubling trend. Retrieved October 16, 2010, from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/09/30/eveningnews/main6916119.shtml?tag=stack
Rivers, I. & Noret, N. (2010). Participant roles in bullying behavior and their association with thoughts of ending one's life. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 31(3), 143-148.
Sperry. L. (2010). Mobbing and bullying: The influence of individual, work group, and organizational dynamics on abusive workplace behavior. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 61(3), 190-201.
Wang, J., Iannotti, R. J. & Nansel, T. R. (2009). School bullying among adolescents in the United States: Physical, verbal, relational, and cyber. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45(4), 368-75.
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