Bullying in Different Contexts

by Claire P. Monks (Editor), Iain Coyne (Editor)

Bullying has a tendency to be associated with aggression between children in the playground, but bullying and abuse can also be observed in other social settings. Bullying in Different Contexts brings together, for the first time, leading international researchers to discuss these behaviours in a wide range of settings, including preschool, school, the home, residential care, prisons, the workplace and cyberspace. The authors provide background to the different contexts, discuss the impact and types of interpersonal aggression and the characteristics of those involved. A final chapter collates the findings from each context to draw conclusions on the similarities and differences between the behaviours, risk factors for involvement and theoretical approaches to explain bullying. This original volume will further our understanding of bullying and inform preventative and intervention work. The authors seek to show how research from diverse settings may inform our understanding of the bullying phenomenon as a whole.

261 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent, albeit brief academic read in the context of defining bullying in a variety of different environments. Some of the topics this book covers include relationship violence, elderly abuse and bullying, bullying in prisons, workplaces, and schools, as well as cyberbullying.

Several different authors examine the causes and effects of bullying, with several citations from research studies. I really liked the fact that this book chose to showcase bullying as it occurs to many different populations in each environment, but I had the feeling that the lot of it was just too brief. The information is concise, and very well organized and spaced within its headers.

The compilation probably won't be as enlightening as other narratives for a general audience, but those doing research or perusing the book for academic learning and psychological food for thought will probably get the most out of this, especially with its links to other texts.

Overall score: 3/5 stars

[Cumberland Public Libraries]

This is an insightful and thought-provoking, indeed timely, collection of academic essays that should be read by a wider audience than just parents, teachers, care-givers and administrators. It contains a number of essays which discuss the matter of 'bullying' in schools and in the workplace, as well as in areas not often associated with bullying, namely prisons and residential children's homes.

In the span of ten chapters, this book challenges our understanding of the term 'bullying'. Generally, we think of bullying as behaviour that exists within a school, workplace or on-line ('cyber'), and is unlike other forms of aggression in that it is between unequals (one is stronger and the other vulnerable or weaker) and it is usually repetitive. The various authors in this volume however challenge this notion and thus in their concluding essay the editors ask the important question whether 'bullying' should become an umbrella term which would cover the 'classic' meaning (school, workplace and cyber) but also terms such as 'peer violence, elder abuse, peer victimisation, dating violence' and the like. Their conclusion is for those who studying 'bullying' to join with those who study 'abusive behaviours' to share their ideas, knowledge and practice in order to provide a stronger knowledge base from which to develop interventions and preventative measures.' (p. 255)
Recommended by Adam, Headquarters