Socio-psychological and personal characteristics of adolescents who witness bullying
https://doi.org/10.26795/2307-1281-2020-8-4-10
Abstract
Introduction. Bullying witnesses are the most prevalent and yet the least researched group of adolescents involved in bullying. The objective of the current article is to summarise the results of the studies of psychological and personal characteristics of adolescent bullying witnesses.
Materials and Methods. Summarising results of the theretical and experimental studies dedicated to psychological and personal characteristics of adolescent bullying witnesses.
Results. Bullying witnesses are the most prevalent group, which makes bullying possible. There are four groups among witnesses: defenders of the victim, assistants of the bully, sympathizers of the victim and bystanders. These groups have specific social status, traumatic experience, emotional reactions, attitudes, perceptions, friendships and motivations. Defenders of the victims have high social status, psychological wellbeing and personal resources. Adolescents from other groups are more troubled or have traumatic experience, have less wellbeing and personal resources. These findings must be taken into account when developing preventon programs.
Discussion and Conclusions. Nonconstructive behavior of the witnesses, as a key element of the bullying, must be understood for each bullying case. Prevention program must be aimed at changing nonproductive role positions of the witnesses into the active position of the victim defender. Increasing the number of active defending stops the bullying and prevents the bully from future attacks.
Supporting agencies: The publication was prepared within the framework of state assignment No. 073-00032-20-00 under the project "Development of a modern concept for the comprehensive prevention of aggressive behavior in the educational environment and its scientific and methodological support, including testing and preparation for implementation."
About the Authors
E. N. Volkova
Institute for the Study of Childhood, Family and Education of the Russian Academy of Education
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Volkova Elena N. – Doctor of Psychology, Professor
Researcher ID: G-8595-2015
Moscow
I. V. Volkova
Russian Academy of Education
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Volkova Irina V. – senior analyst
SPIN: 9742-9840, Researcher ID: B-6469-2016
Moscow
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