Teasing and Bullying by Rick Peterson, Ph.D
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FAMILY CHILD CARE Volume 12 • Issue 1 • 2003 CONNECTIONS Sponsored by the Extension Cares Initiative Teasing and Bullying by Rick Peterson, Ph.D. same behaviors they have experienced at school, in their neighborhood, or even in their own homes. ot all teasing is harmful. In fact, playful teasing can be Nfun for children and adults. Playful, good-humored Children may tease because teasing can lead to feelings of teasing can lead to smiles and laughter, even on the part of superiority or power. Putting others down through ridiculing the person being teased. Researchers have discovered that and name-calling can make a child feel in control when the this type of teasing can help children develop social skills child who is being teased becomes physically or emotionally they will need in later adolescence and adulthood (Ross, upset (Olweus, 1993). 1996). Another reason for teasing is peer Unfortunately, quite the acceptance. Unfortunately, for some opposite takes place when children, teasing may be seen as the cool teasing becomes hurtful. thing to do. By joining in and putting Ridiculing, name-calling, and another person down, the child may feel like putting-down another person they are part of the “in” or “popular” group. can lead to feelings of sadness, hurt, and anger. Hostile Misunderstanding differences or a lack of teasing may include understanding of differences may lead to tormenting or harassing teasing (Freedman, 1999). Cultural or ethnic another person and may call for differences, along with physical and/or intervention by a caregiving adult, learning disabilities, may result in some parent, or teacher. children becoming the target of teasing. Why Children Tease Lastly, media influence may play a role in why Children tease for a number of different reasons. One likely children tease. Children are often exposed to teasing through motive is to receive attention. Even if the attention received television programs where put-downs and other forms of is entirely negative, teasing can have the effect of causing teasing are depicted. others to notice the negative behavior of the person doing the teasing. For some children, negative attention is better then When Teasing Turns into Bullying no attention at all. Bullying is the willful, conscious desire to hurt another person and put him/her under stress (Tattum & Tattum, 1992). Some children may tease because they are simply imitating Bullying consists of more than one single act of aggressive the behavior of others. Children who tease may mimic the (continued on page 2) 2003 F A M I L Y C H I L D C A R E C O N N E C T I O N S 2 behavior and may include physical contact, name-calling, Some victims may try to bully other children as a response to making faces, dirty gestures, or being intentionally excluded being teased and bullied themselves. from a group. In addition, bullying can be classified as direct or indirect. Direct bullying is characterized by open attacks, Stopping bullying behavior while indirect bullying is characterized by social isolation or early is critical for both exclusion from the group. Bullying is an ongoing pattern of the victim and for those physical or psychological aggression that victimizes the who bully. One study person being bullied. found that males who where bullied were Who Bullies and Why more likely by age 20 Bullying occurs among both boys and girls. According to to be depressed, and they researchers, boys are more likely to be bullied by other boys, had lower self esteem than a while girls tend to be victimized by both boys and girls comparison group who had (Schuster, 1996). Girls tend to use ridicule and the spreading not been bullied (Olweus, of rumors to victimize, while boys typically use physical 1993b). forms of attack to bully. Negative consequences for those who bully have been There are several psychological factors that are associated demonstrated as well. There is some evidence that shows that with those who bully. Researchers have found that bullies childhood bullies are more likely to perform poorly in school, tend to have higher levels of anger, depression, and become aggressive later in life, and become involved in impulsivity. They also tend to lack confidence in the use of criminal activities (Olweus, 1979). nonviolent strategies for dealing with problems, lack a sense of belonging in school, and have more problems at home. It is What Can Providers Do? also thought that childrearing practices may contribute to Effective interventions must focus on a number of levels, bullying behavior. One researcher found that authoritarian, or including the teaser/bully, the victim, peer culture, the school, punitive, parenting can lead to bullying. In other words, and the home environment (Garrity & Baris, 1999). Since children brought up in a teasing and bullying often occurs away from the presence of harsh, aggressive adults, and thus goes undetected, adults must recognize the environment may problem and investigate when they suspect teasing and become angry and bullying is going on. Once detected, a variety of intervention aggressive themselves. plans can be enacted. Effective intervention plans focus on: Children whose parents practice coercive $ helping the bully and the victim develop a healthy self parenting behaviors, esteem, such as yelling, name- $ establishing a no-tolerance policy for teasing and calling, and threats of bullying, punishment, have $ creating and enforcing rules of respect and responsible children who tend to behavior, model this aggressive $ educating students on what to do when confronted with behavior with their peers. teasing and bullying as well as the negative consequences of such behavior, Who Are the Victims of Teasing and Bullying? $ educating and training staff on the nature of the problem Researchers have discovered that victims of teasing and and ways to intervene, and bullying share some common characteristics. Some of these $ involving parents and the community in the process. characteristics may include physical weakness, poor social skills, willingness to submit to the bully’s demands, outward Successful anti-teasing and bullying programs send clear signs of distress (e.g., anxiousness, depression), and messages that this type of behavior is not appropriate and that possession of few friends. all children will be safe. Consequences for Victims and Bullies Dr. Rick Peterson is an Assistant Professor and Parenting Victims of bullying may suffer from anxiety, fear, and low Specialist with Texas Cooperative Extension. His areas of self esteem. They may avoid peers, school, and social specialty include parenting, child care, and children’s mental activities where they may be exposed to teasing or bullying. health issues. Victims may become depressed and, in some cases, suicidal. 3 F A M I L Y C H I L D C A R E C O N N E C T I O N S 2003 Discipline: Converting Children’s Negative Behavior into Valuable Life Lessons by Stephen Green, Ph.D. behavior, think about that child’s developmental capacities, and consider how to use the misbehavior to teach a valuable, ne of the most challenging aspects of being a child care age-appropriate life lesson. Oprovider is deciding upon a style of discipline that is appropriate, effective, and in the best interest of each child. 2. Communicate Expectations Clearly. Children will As frustrating as it may be, it is entirely normal for children have a very difficult time following the limits established by to test limits and engage in behavior that might be considered their caregivers if they do not know what those limits are. inappropriate. How you respond to such behavior depends on Likewise, when children violate the limits, it is critical to let a number of factors, including the child’s age and them know that they have violated a limit. If some type of developmental stage, the personality and temperament of the disciplinary action is taken, it is also helpful for you to let the child, the severity of the behavior, and your views concerning child know why she is being disciplined. Taking advantage of discipline. these “teachable moments” promotes positive behavior and helps prevent future misbehavior. While it may not appear this way on the surface, addressing children’s misbehavior provides you with a great opportunity 3. Establish Reasonable Consequences. Establishing to teach children valuable life lessons. Unfortunately, for reasonable consequences is an essential aspect of effective many adults, the word “discipline” simply means to discipline. This requires caregivers to distinguish between punish. While punishment is certainly a part of reasonable and unreasonable discipline, the word also brings with it many consequences. What constitutes positive connotations. Discipline can also reasonable versus unreasonable mean to teach, instruct, or train someone depends on the age and physically, intellectually, emotionally, developmental stage of the child and morally, and socially. When you think the severity of the behavior. A child of discipline in these terms, the who clearly understands and is capable importance of discipline becomes very of following a rule established by a apparent. caregiver, yet fails to do so, should experience a consequence for this behavior. The As a child care provider, you play an consequence, however, should be in line with important role in modeling and the offense. For example, a reasonable encouraging positive behavior in consequence for a three-year-old child who children. Although no one has all of the takes a cookie from the kitchen just before answers when it comes to disciplining lunch would be not letting the child have a children, some general guidelines follow that can assist you dessert after lunch. An unreasonable consequence, on the in your efforts to discipline the children in your care in a other hand, would be not letting the child eat lunch at all.