NCJ Number
217910
Journal
Journal of School Violence Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: 2006 Pages: 3-18
Date Published
2006
Length
16 pages
Annotation
To better understand the nature and dynamics of peer victimization, this paper defines peer victimization, examines forms of victimization, classifies types of victims, and proposes a model to better understand the dynamic interplay among the variables involved in peer victimization.
Abstract
Peer victimization is a recurring pattern typically occurring in the earliest stages of school socialization. Children who enter school at a social disadvantage are more likely to become the victim of one-on-one reactive events at lower grade levels. As these students advance in school and friendship groups begin to form, they become more vulnerable to isolation and chronic victimization. This hinders their opportunities to learn appropriate social skills. As this cycle continues, the nonaggressive peer group helps the victim less, demonstrates more hostility toward, and attributes more fault to the victim. Given this cycle, it is essential that peer victimization be identified early and immediately responded to at multiple levels. The victimization of children by their peers is a significant problem confronting American schools. Peer victimization has been associated with a variety of negative school, social, and mental health outcomes. Given the prevalence of, and the psychosocial risk associated with peer victimization, it is necessary that educators and parents understand this phenomenon. Figure, references