Archive for category Computer Bullying

The old adage “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” is far from true, new research shows.

While the negative consequences of cyber bullying at school is well documented, more traditional forms of bullying prevail, a Wesley Mission report has found.

The report – Give Kids a Chance: No One Deserves to Be Left Out – is the result of a survey of 1,200 people, aged 18 to 44 years.

It questioned victims of bullying, bullies, and those who were victims and then became bullies themselves.

It showed victims of bullying at school were negatively affected for many years afterwards, Wesley CEO the Reverend Keith Garner said.

“What happens in childhood follows through and carries on in adult life,” he told reporters on Friday at the report’s launch in Sydney.

“How does it express itself?

“Well, (through) an inability to develop mature relationships, a fear of other people, the inability to properly release anger, and inappropriate anger expressed very violently,” he said.

The longer the bullying lasted, the more likely it was to involve emotional forms of bullying, including name calling and being ostracised, the report found.

Victims of emotional bullying were less likely to be assertive than those who experienced physical bullying.

The report found 42 per cent of bullying victims who were often avoided or ignored said they were unable to stand up for themselves when bullied.

In contrast, 46 per cent who reported being hit or kicked said they would fight back.

While female victims reported more emotional bullying than males, physical violence among girls was on the increase, Wesley community project worker Christie O’Leary said.

“Female bullying has become a lot more physical,” she said.

“We are now seeing even on YouTube and Facebook, and things like that, images of girls absolutely beating each other.”

Many who are bullied at school grow up to become bullies, with low self-esteem being a trait of both bullies and those who are bullied, the report found.

Both groups also commonly come from a less than ideal family background, such as one where there is substance abuse, violence, or other form of trauma.

The child’s response to the situation sometimes determined whether they would get bullied at school, or if they would become bullies, the report found.

Lack of assertiveness is a victim trait, while lack of empathy is a bullying trait, Mr Garner said.

To address the problem, Wesley Mission recommends more programs in preschool years to build up social skills.

It also recommends introducing anti-bullying and resilience programs at primary and secondary schools, as well as the introduction of funding for children suffering from abuse, including bullying.