Definitions, prevalence and sources of violence in Denmark

Ole Thomson

Definition

In recent years there has been some focus on bullying in Denmark. Several researchers have produced definitions on bullying:

Bullying is repeated, long-term negative behaviour which leads to anindividual or group being victimised by another individual or group. Itcan be verbal i.e. insults and name calling or physical i.e. physicalviolence or having personal belongings taken. It can be direct, asdescribed, or indirect, for example, social isolation or being expelledby the group.

Bullying creates an imbalance of power in which the victim usuallyloses status and self-esteem and thereby becomes helpless in front ofthe bully(ies). Bullying can, in its extreme, lead to anindividual/group being totally segregated socially.
(Eva Pernille Due, Bjørn E. Holstein & Per Schultz Jørgensen, 2001)

Bullying is the absence or corruption of social norms. Thereforebullying may be prevented through making changes to the social normsand/or behaviours. This isn't easy because bullying isn't just onething. Therefore it's important to look for the source of the bullying.
(Per Kjeldsen, Psychologist and Consultant for the Ministry of Education )

Prevalence

Violence among young people

Trends

The level of crime in the target group(aged 14-15) has declined during the last two decades. Fewer youngpeople commit low-level crimes, and those committing them, do it lessfrequently. This can't be explained by a decline in 'abuse'. The use ofalcohol in the same period has increased, and more young people smokecannabis. Cannabis is considered to be a 'losers' drug, and its use ishigher amongst young criminals, as opposed to young people in general.

This decline in criminality can't be explained by family or schoolfactors. The decline has occurred even though young people spend moreof their spare time in public places (on the street, shopping centres,burger bars etc.,) taking part in non organised activities.

Most of the 14-15 age group was not affected by violence, either asperpetrators, victims or witnesses. 19% have been involved in physicalaggression against another, and 16% have been physically abusedthemselves. Violence is more common by far amongst boys, and morecommon in rural areas than in towns. The opposite is the case withtheft.

Violence is also connected to other kinds of crime. The same peopleoften appear to be both the victims and the perpetrators of violentacts. A small group of young people, 3%, seems to be involved in adisproportionately high amount of aggressive interactions. This groupis involved in 22% of the physical aggression committed by young peopleaged 14-15, and they have been a victim of physical aggression in 29%of the cases.

'Gang crime' is rare amongst young people. 1-2% consider themselvesas a member of a gang. The majority of young people view violent actsin a negative manner (Flemming Balvig, 2000).

Bullying

Current research appears to agree on the levels of bullying inDanish schools. Research conducted by WHO (HBSC) in 1998 on 5200 pupilsin Denmark, shows that 25% answered 'yes' to the question asking ifthey had been bullied. The same results were found in researchconducted by the Danish Children's council in 1998 from 60 classesduring group discussions (5th grade) (Danish Children's council, 2001)

"25% were bullied several times during the academic year. Thiswas most frequent amongst the youngest students, and independent ofsex. 32% bullied others, boys more frequently than girls, withfrequency increasing with age. Bullying was associated with low socialclass and varied considerably among schools. The victims had moreproblems with regards to health, well being and self-esteem; and theysmoked and drank less than others. Those who bullied others also hadmore problems but to a much smaller extent than the victims. They hadhigher levels of risk behaviours, such as smoking, drinking, andseat-belt avoidance, and were less satisfied with school."
(Eva Pernille Due, Bjørn E. Holstein & Per Schultz Jørgensen, 2001)

Sources

Whilst there are many reasons for the occurrence of violence, it isconsidered to occur mainly as a result of social and /or psychologicalfactors.

Bullying is mainly focussed on personal matters. The more a person(pupil) differs from the group in terms of looks, family background orbehaviour, the greater the risk of being bullied. Bullying is about thepsychological welfare of the child but the student is not protected bythe workers welfare act (Danish Children's council, 2001).

"Victims of bullying have a very high proportion of healthproblems, poor well-being and low self-esteem. To bully others issignificantly associated with health risk behaviours."
(Eva Pernille Due, Bjørn E. Holstein & Per Schultz Jørgensen, 2001)

Literature and links

Literature:

Balvig Flemming(2000): Risiko Ungdom. Ungdomsundersøgelse 1999. Denmark.

Danish Children's council (2001) Det handler om værdighed - Børnerådets bud på en offentlig mobbepolitik. Copenhagen 2001

Due Eva Pernille, Holstein Bjørn E. & Holstein Per SchultzJørgensen (2001). Verdenssundhedsorganisationen WHO,(HBSC-undersøgelsen).1998. København.

Organisations:

Nordisk Samarbejdsråd for Kriminologi
Retsvidenskabeligt Institut D, Københavns Universitet
Sankt Peders Stræde 19
DK-1453 København K

WWW:

The European Network of Ombudsmen for Children (ENOC): www.ombudsnet.org

Det Kriminalpræventive Råd: www.crimprev.dk

Børnerådet: www.boerneraadet.dk