Bullying in Different Contexts: Commonalities, Differences and the Role of Theory

• NCJ Number: 226862
• Journal: Aggression and Violent Behavior: A Review Journal Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: March/April 2009 Pages: 146-156
• Author(s): Claire P. Monks; Peter K. Smith; Paul Naylor; Christine Barter; Jane L. Ireland; Iain Coyne
• Date Published: April 2009
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article reviews the literature regarding the nature, extent, characteristics, and impact of bullying in schools, between siblings, in children's homes, in prisons, and in the workplace, and explores commonalities and differences in bullying within the various contexts and ways in which it is exhibited and experienced.

Abstract

Behaviors which can be identified as bullying occur in a variety of contexts during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Currently, there is a good base of research into bullying in a diversity of settings, giving sound description of the phenomenon. Examination of the characteristics of those who bully or are bullied, and situational factors involved suggest that a number of different psychological approaches may make interesting contributions to further the understanding and provide a stronger knowledge base from which to develop interventions and preventative measures. Little research has directly applied theoretical frameworks to bullying in any of the settings. What has been done has tended to focus on school bullying. This article shows that there are commonalities between bullying behavior towards others in a number of settings. In order to help advance the field, greater communication by researchers across these different settings and further comparison of similarities and differences in methods and approaches is recommended. Through a literature review, this article describes the nature of bullying in schools, between siblings, in children's residential care homes, in prisons, and in the workplace. Commonalities and differences of bullying and the ways in which it is exhibited and experienced are explored. The role of individual and organizational factors in the development and maintenance of these behaviors across contexts is compared followed by an examination of a number of theoretical approaches suggested as relevant to the understanding of bullying. Lastly, integrative approaches are proposed, which view these behaviors as being influenced by a combination of situational and individual factors. References