Bullying Literature Review

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Introduction

Educators attempt to provide safe, nurturing environments where students can thrive. Any disturbance to this climate can have negative affects on students’ educational performances. Bullying is one such disruption. Unfortunately, physical and verbal abuse are nothing new in the school setting, however, the rise of technology in our country has created a new setting for bullies to target their victims. Cyberbulling, or the use of any number of technological means to harm or harass another, has become an increasingly prevalent occurrence, specifically among school-aged children (Campfield, 2006).

In this review of literature, the unique aspects of cyberbullying and its relation to traditional forms of bullying will be examined. Educators must understand the complex nature of this beast if it is to be addressed effectively. Furthermore, this review will look at the predictors of aggression in youth and how these factors can be addressed to combat bullying of any kind in the school setting.

Review

Because cyberbullying is a relatively new phenomenon, there is some degree of variance in its definition. In its early inception, cyberbullying was thought to be limited to the internet. However, the rapid creation of new technology tolls has expanded the boundaries to include cell phones, instant messaging, chat rooms, and email (Campfield, 2006). Campfield (2006) conducted a study of middle school students to determine the incidence rates of cyberbullying. She found that nearly 70% of students were involved in cyberbullying in some capacity, as a bully or victim. In a similar study, Li (2007) found that 39% of students have been involved in cyberbullying, while 52% were aware of a peer being harassed through electronic m...

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...f bullies, victims, and bully/victims. Dissertation Abstracts International: 69(9-B). Retrieved from PsycINFO.

Holt, M. K. & Espelage, D. L. (2007). Perceived social support among bullies, victims,

and bully-victims. Journal of Youth Adolescence. 36(8), 984-994. Retrieved from Education Research Complete.

Li, Q. (2007). New bottle but old wine: A research of cyberbullying in schools.

Computers in Human Behavior. 23(4), 1777-1791. Retrieved from Education Research Complete.

Salmivalli, C. & Voeten, M. (2004). Connections between attitudes, group norms, and

behaviour in bullying situations. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 28(3), 246-258. Retrieved from Education Research Complete.

Williams, K. R. & Guerra, N. G. (2007). Prevalence and predictors of internet bullying.

Journal of Adolescent Health. 41(6), S14-S21. Retrieved from PsycINFO.

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