Cyberbullying and Sociocultural Theory
From WikEd
Contents |
[edit] What is traditional bullying?
"Repeated negative, ill-intentioned behavior by one or more students directed against a student who has difficulty defending himself or herself. Most bullying occurs without any apparent provocation on the part of the student who is exposed." Traditional bullying involves systematic efforts to inflict harm on another, through physical, verbal, or social attacks” (Olweus).
[edit] What is cyberbullying?
"Cyberbullying involves the use of information and communication technologies such as e-mail, cell phone and pager text messages, instant messaging, defamatory personal Web sites, and defamatory online personal polling Web sites, to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others “(www.bullying.org).
[edit] Traditional bullying vs. cyberbullying
- Face-to-face vs. impersonal
- One form vs. many forms (i.e. email, text messaging, instant messaging)
- Familiar aggressor vs. unfamiliar aggressor
- Overt vs. covert
- School-aged vs. many ages
- School vs. online
[edit] Li, Q. (2005). New bottle old wine: A research of cyberbullying in schools
Li examines adolescents’ experiences with cyberbullying and characteristics of bullying online. Li found that 54% of the sample experienced bullying in its traditional form and more than a quarter were victims of online bullying. Often times, the online victims did not know their assailant. Additionally, bullying online occurred via e-mail, in chat rooms, and through cellular phone text messages. With regard to gender, 60% of the online victims were female. Moreover, Li suggests that females prefer to use technological means to bully.Li (2005) suggests that peer status, social, and biological changes are related to violence in schools.
[edit] Anderson, A. & Sturm, B. (2007). Cyberbullying From Playground to Computer
The article provides an overview of cyberbullying, the characteristics of children involved, its relation to traditional bullying and suggested interventions. Traditional bullying was thought to be a part of growing up and part of children’s play. However, bullying can have serious effects on psychological well-being.
[edit] Applying the sociocultural theory
Sociocultural theory suggests that bullying results from power differences between various social groups with different levels of power. Gender, race, ethnicity, or social class is usually the difference between groups. These have a historical and cultural basis. We live in a patriarchal society. Throughout the course of history men have been viewed as the dominant sex. Men have been endowed with power and authority. Males then display their dominance by intimidating and exerting power over females. Research has shown that males are more likely to bully and have a tendency to bully girls (Rigby, 2004). Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory also suggests that the child and others socially construct knowledge in the culture in a context mostly controlled by adults.
[edit] Questions
- In what way have males been socialized throughout history that may lead boys to bully?
- How are boys taught to behave around girls?
- How is power/social class conveyed or established online?
- How then do parents and children socially construct knowledge about bullying and what meanings are associated with bullying?
