Potential Targets

The 'Norm' Vs Difference

"Bullying is when someone picks on soneone else because they are different - their race, height, weight or looks . . . it is about prejudice and discrimination . . . when someone is not respected." Year 8 Girl
(Tackling Bullying: Listening to the Views of Children and Young People by Christine Oliver and Mano Candappa, 2003, DfES Publications)

Bullying behaviour often directed at individuals or groups who are perceived to be different:

• Members of a particular ethnic group, religion, social class or socio-economic group.
• Individuals who have a disability or Special Educational Needs.
• Individuals who are members of a particular gender
• Individuals who are perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
• Individuals who are in care or themselves young carers.
• The bullying is targeted at this "difference" with the intention to denigrate, hurt or embarrass the victim(s).

The problem is 'difference' - what is wrong with individuality?

All students are potential targets of bullying, however, students who exhibit the following characteristics are more vulnerable:

• shyness
• lacking close friends
• low self-esteem
• have SEN or disability
• racially different
• physically different (stammers, obese)
• behaves inappropriately (irritating, provocative)

Students coming from disturbed backgrounds, an over protective family, is in care or is a young carer are more likely to be bullied.

None of these characteristics justifies bullying

The Behaviour of Targets

The telltale signs of bullying vary with each victim and circumstances.
However the signs are a mixture of the following:

• poor attendance
• deterioration in work and concentration levels
• anxiety
• insecurity
• feeling isolated/ lonely
• withdrawal from social situations - reluctance to socialise
• lack of friends
• low self-esteem
• having negative views of themselves (ugly, failures, stupid, ashamed)
• depression
• suicidal thoughts
• lacking in trust
• more demanding of attention - seeking approval

More physical indications can include:

• complaints of headaches
• bed- wetting
• complaints of stomach- ache
• vomiting
• fainting
• hunger
• sadness
• sleeping difficulties

And look out for:

• torn clothes
• missing possessions
• unexplained cuts, bruises
• damaged books - pages missing
• asking for extra money

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The Role of Friendships

The role of friendships has an influence on the liklihood of becoming a target. If an individual has a number of quality friends , a best friend and a good standing in their peer group then they are less likely to be bullied. (Cowie and Talamelli)

PEER RELATIONSHIPS AND EMOTIONAL LITERACY

People that are emotionally literate are able to:

• get on with others
• resolve conflicts
• motivate themselves
• achieve in life

Skills for developing positive relationship are:

• Communication
• Socialisation
• Assertiveness
• Active listening
• Solution generation
• Conflict resloution

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Up to 20% of targets are also bullies themselves usually to someone younger or smaller.

More significant than anything else is the fact that 30% of targets will never tell anyone. Why?

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