Abstract
Schools are indispensable institutions of society. Necessary measures should be taken to ensure that children can continue their education in safety in schools that concern almost all society. For this reason, the importance given to school health and safety is increasing day by day. Bullying is an important problem that threatens school health and safety and negatively affects the physical, emotional, and spiritual development of the individual. Schools constitute the most important environment where children with different cultural, social, economic, physical, and emotional characteristics come together. Bullying negatively affects the development of children. For this reason, bullying at school should be handled in every aspect, and school policies should be established to prevent it.
TopBullying In School
School bullying has been emphasized for nearly half a century. It is already known that bullying is a very damaging form of violence, in which some students intentionally attack and harm those who are unable to protect themselves. The definition of bullying has been defined in many way. Bullying is a pattern of behavior that repeatedly and intentionally harms and humiliates others, particularly those that are younger, weaker, younger, or in any way more vulnerable than a bully. Bullying is a form of aggression, but the deliberate targeting of those with less power is what separates bullying from aggression (Dodge & Coie, 1987; D. Olweus, Limber, & Mihalic, 1999; Smith et al., 1999; Olafsen & Viemerö, 2000; Espelage, Bosworth, & Simon, 2000; Pellegrini, 2002; Pellegrini & Long, 2002;).
Following the pioneering work of Olweus (D. Olweus et al., 1999; Dan Olweus, 2001), bullying has been described as a subcategory of interpersonal aggression illustrated by intentionality, repetition, and an imbalance of power, with abuse of power being a primary distinction between bullying and other forms of aggression (Smith et al., 1999; Vaillancourt, Hymel, & McDougall, 2003; Hymel & Swearer, 2015).
According to American Psychological Association, bullying is a form of aggressive behavior in which someone intentionally and repeatedly causes another person injury or discomfort. Bullying can take the form of physical contact, words or more subtle actions. (https://www.apa.org/topics/bullying)
To be considered bullying, the behavior must include aggression, and also include:
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The Power Imbalance: The perpetrator of bullying is stronger and use their power to control or harm others in many way (physically stronger, more popular, high socioeconomic status etc).
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Repetition: Bullying behaviors are repeated or have the possibility to occur more than once. Also bullying could be perpetrated via computer as a cyberbullying and cannot be observed easily by others.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Bullying Prevention: Bullying prevention is a multilevel school-based program to prevent or reduce bullying in elementary, middle, and junior high schools, both at school and off campus. It is essential for schools to develop a positive culture and to guide social-emotional learning.
School Climate: School climate refers to the quality and character of school life. School climate is based on patterns of students’, parents’ and school personnel’s experience of school life and reflects norms, goals, values, interpersonal relationships, teaching and learning practices, and organizational structures
Bullying: Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance.