Bullying In Social Psychology

From my participation with the psychology section of this course, it is my view that there are numerous strategies which can be used to improve the situation involving Ella, Jane and the class. From reading the above description, it is clear there is an element of bullying in the class that is primarily focused on Ella. According to the DES guidelines (2013), bullying is; “unwanted negative behaviour, verbal, psychological or physical, conducted by an individual or group against another person (or persons) and which is repeated over time”. Thus, It is clear that bullying can have a significant impact on a child and can affect them in numerous ways. However, there is often a strong correlation between bullying and self-esteem of both the person …show more content…
Firstly, I think it is important to address the problem of bullying that is occurring. This could be achieved by a restorative approach. Rigby (2009) describes that this method “seeks to provide conditions in which the offender will recognize the harm he or she has done and undertake actions to put things right.” This could be achieved by sitting the offender and victim down in a room together with their parents with the aim of resolving the issue and creating a positive relationship. Rigby (2009) describes how the offender is treated with respect by this this community of people but how the feeling of shame is generated by the bully as a result of the discussion with the victim. This facilitates Jane with the opportunity of apologising for their actions and can stimulate the beginning of a positive …show more content…
Therefore, I think I would use this particular skill in order to build Jane’s self-esteem. This could be achieved by getting Jane to demonstrate a particular skill to the class, e.g blending colours together, how to draw an eye etc. This may aid Jane in developing a sense of self-worth and pride. It could also facilitate the belief that she has good qualities which would boost her confidence and may result in a more positive attitude. As described by Lawrence, D (1996), it can be “a revelation to the low self-esteem child to hear somebody express positive thoughts about him/her.” This approach could also be taken with Ella and her interest in reading. She could be paired with another member of class who has difficulty with this area and could help them with a particular task. Through encouragement Jane and Ella may “begin to perceive themselves in a more positive light” as mentioned by Lawrence, D