8/11/2009

Bullying

Bullying can have harmful emotional, psychological and academic effects for children which could last a lifetime.

It is estimated that more than five million children are bullied each year in the U.S. and as many as one hundred sixty thousand children miss school each day because of bullying.  Dr. Mary Dobbins, assistant professor of psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, describes a typical bully.

SOUND BITE:  “. . .  somebody that is being more physically aggressive on purpose, to put somebody down, embarrass them, to draw attention to themselves, that would probably be the classic example of bullying or extortion -- trying to get their lunch money, something like that. Boys have traditionally done more of that.”

Dr. Dobbins explains that there is a psychological component to bullying.  Although boys tend to use physical forms such as pushing and hitting, girls are more likely to use psychological bullying -- embarrassing someone, starting rumors and excluding others from a group.  Cyber bullying with threatening messages being sent by cell phones and computers also is becoming a concern.  She advices parents about cyber bullying.

SOUND BITE:  “…the biggest tip that I can give to a parent is to get those darned electronics turned off well before bedtime and have them being used in a place where family members are around. (21:23) . . . (22:28) When nobody else is around, kids say and do things that they normally would not do.” 

Dr. Dobbins urges parents to use techniques that will help victims of bullying cope with the situation.   She suggests helping increase the child’s social skills so they have more friends and support, teach the child how to stand up to the bully, and encourage them to report the bullying to another adult. 

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.