The film Bully, opening in some theaters today, addresses an issue that is verging on an epidemic with more than 18 million young people reportedly being bullied in the United States this year alone.
Before the motion picture has even hit the big screen, it already is inspiring a wide array of opinions ranging from educators to Lady Gaga. And all too often, the suggested solution to bullying will be a “one and done" event—an ineffective approach, according to a University of Notre Dame psychologist.
“Bringing in a one-time motivational speaker to raise awareness will not resolve this issue and is a waste of money,” says F. Clark Power, a professor in the Program of Liberal Studies and concurrent professor in the Department of Psychology who specializes in moral education and development. “Even worse, this approach will salve the conscience without solving the problem.”
Power believes the only real solution involves commitment and consistency to change the culture over time. Through his research, he has concluded the only real solution is to focus on changing the culture, not the bully’s behavior or the victim’s responses exclusively.
“The key to change is to focus on the bystanders and get them to own the bullying issue themselves by becoming involved. Often fear of being bullied themselves is the barrier to becoming involved. And the only way to create involvement is to create understanding that the bully is not the problem of just the victim alone, but the problem of all.”
Over the years, research first focused on the victim—producing no significant solution. Next the pathology of the bully was studied—again with no measurable results. Research has shown that real change occurs only when you work with the kids themselves in a group to change that group’s culture. For example, working with kids in a safe group environment with hypothetical dilemmas allows each member to feel what it is like to be both the victim and the bystander. Once kids are comfortable in this environment, researchers can move them to solve bullying issues in their “real life” through development of shared group norms.
Power has worked in the area of moral development and culture for the majority of his academic career. Approximately 10 years ago he formed the Play Like A Champion Educational Series for youth and high school sports. This program is a forum for coaches, athletic administrators and parents to address issues such as bullying and character development within a team.
“In many ways, schools can learn, from good sports and coaches, practical and sustained methods to solve the bullying issue. Coaches working with their teams to look out for each other rarely have sustained bullying issues because the team will rally around a victim and shut the bullying down.”
Power and his team are currently concluding a research project within the South Bend Community School Corp. on moral development, with early findings validating the team culture approach to bullying as being sustainable both in the arena and in life.
Learn More >
- F. Clark Power faculty page
- Program of Liberal Studies
- Department of Psychology
- Play Like A Champion Educational Series
Originally published at newsinfo.nd.edu.
