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Understanding and Responding to Bullying in the School Setting

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Handbook of Australian School Psychology

Abstract

School-based bullying has been widely recognised as a significant problem worldwide and a great deal of research has been undertaken to understand its nature, causes and consequences, and to identify strategies that can be undertaken to reduce its prevalence. This chapter provides an overview of international research into school bullying that can provide a basis for schools to take effective action. Reductions in bullying prevalence in schools can be achieved through the use of evidence-based whole-school approaches, drawing upon effective proactive and reactive strategies. This involves the contribution of agreed and well-implemented anti-bullying policies, preventative action employing social and emotional learning, bystander intervention, peer support and the use of appropriate anti-bullying intervention methods. Attention is drawn to a variety of resources that have become available to promote a deeper understanding of school bullying and to address the problem more effectively. Finally, it includes a discussion of the role that psychologists can play in assisting in providing expert assistance.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Danielle Guttman and Joseph Prior for their assistance.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 428 Baldy Hall, Buffalo, NY, 14260-1000, USA

      Amanda Nickerson

    2. School of Education, Hawke Research Institute, 27/29 North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia

      Ken Rigby

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    1. Amanda Nickerson
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    2. Ken Rigby
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    Correspondence to Amanda Nickerson .

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    Editors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia

      Monica Thielking

    2. St. John’s University, Jamaica, New York, USA

      Mark D. Terjesen

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    Nickerson, A., Rigby, K. (2017). Understanding and Responding to Bullying in the School Setting. In: Thielking, M., Terjesen, M. (eds) Handbook of Australian School Psychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45166-4_26

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