Bullying & Bias-Based

Bullying
By: Vicki Richardson & Taylor Poirier
 Defining Bullying
Generalized Bullying vs. Bias-Based
Bullying
Statistics

Agenda Possible Causes

Possible Effects
Interventions/Preventative Factors
Discussion
 Bullying

Bullying is the repeat of unwanted aggressive behaviors where the target is hurt,
harmed, or humiliated with words or behaviors

Types of Bullying

Verbal Social Power

Physical Cyber Control

 Generalized Bullying vs Bias-Based
Bullying
Generalized Bullying: Bias-Based Bullying:

● Targeted based on physical ● Aspects of their social identity such as

attributes, academics, friendships, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability,
or sexual orientation
being the new kid, etc.
● Multiple bias-based bullying: two or
more aspects
 Prevalence/Statistics

1 in 5 students report 41% of students who report

being bullied being bullied think the bullying
would happen again

Reports of cyberbullying are

highest among middle school
students

70% LGBTQ verbally bullied;

1 in 5 9-12 year olds report being
cyberbullied 29% physically bullied

National Center for Education Statistics, 2019, ages 12-18,

https://www.pacer.org/bullying/info/stats.asp

Cyberbullying Research Center, 2020,

Possible Causes
Getting bullied
● Physical appearance
● Sexual orientation
● Physical/mental impairments
● Oddities
● Excessive obedience
Bullying
● Social status
● Obtaining material rewards
● Having fun
● Emotional release
● Obtaining a sense of security in school
● Conforming to group norms or group
pressure
● For revenge
Possible Effects

Mental
Bullying health
concerns
Academic
difficulties

Risky
behaviors

High rates of
Social fear
avoidance
Substance
use
Interventions & Preventative Factors
Preventative Factors
● Stable Home Life
● Strong Academic Performance
● Perceived School Fairness
● Consistent Use of Discipline Methods
● Early Education
Interventions
● Target biased and prejudiced behaviors in
counseling interventions
● Coordinate support with teachers and staff
● Not saying "they didn't mean it"
● Teach students how to respond/intervene
● Utilize 1 on 1 counseling rather than group
counseling
Interventions & Preventative Factors
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

● Most extensively studied bullying prevention program

● Conducted in Norway and U.S.
● Why it works
○ Focuses on whole school environment
○ Assessment
○ Community-building
○ Trained staff in prevention
○ Enforces school rules/policies
○ Parent support
○ Ongoing support
Discussion

A student comes to you and discloses that a peer is getting bullied about gender
and sexual orientation. This peer has not disclosed any of this to you (including
their gender and sexual orientation) but you have noticed that their grades are
declining and they have withdrawn from participating in school clubs. How do you,
as the school counselor, address this problem with the peer?
Resources

Bradshaw, C. P. (2015). Translating research to practice in bullying prevention. American

Psychologist, 70, 322-332.
Mulvey, K. L., Hoffman, A. J. (2018). Understanding experiences with bullying and bias-
based bullying: What matters and for whom? Psychology of violence, 8, 702-71.
Phillips, L. (2018, June 29). When bias turns to bullying. Counseling Today.
https://ct.counseling.org/2018/06/when-bias-turns-into-bullying/
Wong, C. -T., Cheng, Y. -Y., Chen, L. -M. (2013). Multiple perspectives on the targets and
causes of school bullying. Educational Psychology in Practice, 29, 278-292.