Definitions, prevalence and sources of violence in the UK

Anna Hutchinson

Definition

• School violence is nearly always called bullying in the UK
• Due to the recent growth of interest and research into this area, there has been an increase in the types of behaviours that are being included under the term 'bullying.'
• Definition often seems to be source dependent. We are less likely to label an act as bullying if it is due to something that we perceive to be positive - such as finance or sporting prowess.
• The definition of bullying itself is beginning to be viewed as problematic. If we do not label something as bullying we do not respond to it as such.
• We agree with Olweus (1993) and Whitney and Smith (1993) who specifify that bullying:

• is an aggressive act
• with an imbalance of power
• has some element of repetition
• can be physical, verbal or indirect (i.e. sending nasty notes, exclusion from group).

 

Prevalence

• Research suggests that bullying in the UK is a 'normal' part of school life.
• Researchers claim that between 37% and 80% of pupils experience bullying at some point in their school life.
• Bullying is reported more often in primary schools.
• There seems to be a prevalence of more verbal than physical bullying.
• There has been an increase in the amount of indirect bullying due to the increased use of mobile phones and the Internet.
• Boys tend to be the victims and perpetrators of more physical bullying whilst girls encounter more verbal bullying.

Sources

• Vulnerability itself appears to be making pupils more susceptible to bullying.
• A child with anything obviously different from a very strict peer 'norm' is more vulnerable, therefore, the sources of bullying may be endless.
• Research has also begun to focus on vulnerability as a trigger for a person to become a bully.
• Research has begun to focus on the school environment and how this too can increase or decrease the chances of bullying behaviour occurring.