Shy adolescents and bullying in the context of school

Author(s):

Ingrid Lund

Conference:

ECER 2009

Network:

21. Emerging Researchers' Group (for presentation at Emerging Researchers' Conference)

Format:

Paper

Session Information

SES G9, Pre Conf Parallel Session

Time:

2009-09-26

11:00-12:30

Room:

HG, HS 33

Chair:

Moritz Rosenmund

Contribution

This paper examine the relationship between shy behaviour and bullying in the context of school. Fifteen shy adolescents experiences are the foundation for exploration and discussion related to shy behavior and bullying. Children and adolescents who tend to withdraw from peers and are less assertive in their interaction with others are believed to be at an increased risk to be chosen as targets of aggression. According to earlier reserach is the typical victim more anxious and insecure than students in general. They are ofte cautious, sensitive and quiet.Shyness and low assertiveness may set the stage for social rejection and friendlessness, weakening a potential source of protection against physical and relational bullying, and is therefore interesting to discuss in relation to inclusion. In light of elements from both an existential-phenomenological understanding and social psychology, challenges and remedial measures for these adolescents as well as their peers and teachers are discussed.

Method

My sample is fifteen girls between the ages of 14-18 that perceived their shy behaviour as being a problem in the context of school. Four of them are attending high school, while eleven of them are attending lower secondary school.The qualitative semi-structured interview is one of the tools I have used to obtain fifteen shy adolescents’ experiences from their life-world at school. In addition to the interviews, observations were conducted in multiple, diverse contexts, including lessons with several teachers and during breaks. This approach was used to ensure that the observed behaviour demonstrated a holistic picture of the participants, while at the same time distinguishing factors that might contribute to unique behaviours from particular contexts. And the phenomenological analysis-process developed by Amedeo Giogi was used as a framework for the analysis.

Expected Outcomes

Relatively little research related to shyness have perspectives on bullying in the context of school. Even less is known and discussed regarding the association between the shy adolescents own experiences of bullying and implications for future practice in school.Therefore, a main goal for this investigation is to examine and discuss implications for future practice based on statements from fifteen shy adolescents.

References

Boivin, M., Hymel,S., Bukowski,W.M. (1995). The role of social withdrawal,peer rejection, and victimization by peers in predicting loneliness and depressed mood in children. Development and Psychopathology, 7, 765-786. Bond, L., Carlin, J.B., Thomas, L., Rubin,K., Patton, G. (2001). Does bullying cause emotional problems? A prospective study of young teenagers. British Medical Journal, 323, 480-484. Lund, I. (2008). I Just sit there;. Shyness as an emotional and behavioural problem at school. Journal of Reserach in Special Educational Needs, 8(2), 78-87. Olweus, D. (1994). Annotation: Bullying at school: Basic facts and effects of a school based intervention program. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Diciplines, 35, 1171-1190. Olweus, D. (Ed.). (1993). Victimization By Peers:Antecedents and Long-term Outcomes. Hillsdale: NJ: Erlbaum. Roland, E. (1998). School Influences on Bullying. Durham: University of Durham. Roland, E. (2002). Bullying,depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. Educational Research, 44(1), 55-67. Roland, E., Galloway,D. . (2002). Classroom influences on bullying. Educational reserach, 44(3), 299-312. Rubin, K. H., Mills, R.S.L. (1988). The many faces of social Isolation in Childhood. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psycology, 56(6), 916-924. Rubin, K. H., Wojslawowicz, J. C., Rose-Krasnor, L., Booth-LaForce, C., & Burgess, K. B. (2006). The Best Friendships of Shy/Withdrawn Children: Prevalence, Stability, and Relationship Quality. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Vol 34(2) Apr 2006, 143-157. Rutter, M. (1997). Psychosocial disturbance in young people. Cambridge: Cambridge Iniversity Press. Zahavi, D. (2005). Subjectivity and selfhood investigating the first-person perspective. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. Van Deurzen, E. (2002). Existential counselling & psychoteraphy in practice (2nd ed.). London: Sage publications.

Author Information

Ingrid Lund

University of Agder

Faculty of Humanities and Education

Kristiansand

158

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