Predisposition to, Reasons for and Measures Against Peer Victimisation in Schools

• NCJ Number: 219071
• Journal: Acta Criminologica Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: 2004 Pages: 83-98
• Author(s): J. Neser; M. Ovens; E. van der Merwe; R. Morodi; A. Ladikos; J. Prinsloo
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: South Africa
• Note: Downloaded July 3, 2007 To access the full text PDF: 1) select the provided PDF link; 2) from the Acta Criminologica Web site, select "Table of Contents"; 3) select the corresponding Volume and Issue (see the NCJRS abstract record for the exact Volume and Issue); 4) scroll the Table of Contents to the exact article; and 5) Click on the "full text" icon.

Annotation

Students in grades 6-11 in the South African Province of Gauteng were surveyed about the characteristics of students predisposed to bully other students, the main reasons for bullying, and measures against bullying.

Abstract

Nearly half (43.1 percent) of the respondents believed they were as able (27.9 percent) or more able (16.9 percent) than other students to bully others if they so desired. A significant percentage (64.8 percent) of the group reported they had felt like hurting or upsetting another student "sometimes" (54.6 percent) or "often" (6.8 percent). Just over 40 percent of the students had, as part of a group, bullied another student during 2002, with the highest percentage doing so once or twice (19.2 percent). A somewhat lower percentage of respondents reported bullying other students as individuals rather than as part of a group. The three reasons most often given for bullying were to show toughness (show off) (63.0 percent), for fun (54.6 percent), and to get even (retaliation) (52.4 percent). Regarding measures for countering bullying, 86.8 percent of respondents said educators should try to stop students from bullying one another; and 83.8 percent suggested that students and educators should cooperate in stopping bullying. Students completed 1,926 questionnaires in the first term of 2003; however, 53 of the questionnaires were not correctly completed. The students were from nine primary, eight secondary, and two special schools in District four of the Province. 7 tables and a 13-item bibliography