NCJ Number
196744
Date Published
2001
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This chapter focuses on interviews with middle school students concerning issues of victimization and bullying.
Abstract
Focusing on middle school students’ perceptions of bullying and victimization, this chapter describes interviews with 89 adolescents concerning why children harass each other. After introducing the issue of the bullying of children and adolescents, the authors describe the 89 Midwestern middle school students, in grades 6 through 8, who participated in this study. Ranging in age from 11 to 14 years old, the 55 males and 34 female subjects were largely European-American. Initial student surveys were followed up by in-depth interviews, and results from this study indicate that students’ definitions of bullying are consistent. Describing verbal and physical aggression, threats, manipulation, spreading rumors, destroying or taking others’ property, and seeking revenge and power were described by the majority of students as intentional bullying acts. Using a series of quotes from the students, this paper argues that students bully others to feel superior, some students are bullied more than others because they are physically different in some way, and that playgrounds and classrooms are the most frequent sites for bullying. The authors also contend that many students claim that teachers see bullying occurring, but choose to ignore it. References