Copyright Malvin Porter, Jr. 2010 - acumen - The University of ...
Copyright Malvin Porter, Jr. 2010 - acumen - The University of ...
Copyright Malvin Porter, Jr. 2010 - acumen - The University of ...
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that might have more influence with other children. Bystanders may be more adept at reporting<br />
bullying, intervening to stop bullying, or acting supportively toward a victimized peer (Hara,<br />
2002). While many formal peer support programs that engage children in peer counseling or<br />
conflict resolution have failed to reduce rates <strong>of</strong> bullying, they are perceived as helpful by the<br />
bully victims because they convey the message to the victim that someone cares (Naylor &<br />
Cowie, 1999). <strong>The</strong>se findings suggest the importance <strong>of</strong> understanding the role <strong>of</strong> informal forms<br />
<strong>of</strong> peer social support in buffering the negative consequences associated with bullying. Thus, the<br />
CBVS could be used in intervention programs as a means <strong>of</strong> helping children who might witness<br />
or be victimized by bullying to understand how their actions and justifications influence the<br />
escalation or the reduction <strong>of</strong> bully/victim problems.<br />
Bullying Prevention Programs<br />
<strong>The</strong> aim <strong>of</strong> interventions such as the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) is to<br />
encourage children to shift their roles from supporting bullying to defending against it, which<br />
helps create an atmosphere that does not accept bullying (Olweus, 2001; Olweus et al., 1999).<br />
School climate programs (Munoz & Vanderhaar, 2006) may be more effective when they<br />
promote connection strategies between and among students and school staff. <strong>The</strong> CBVS might be<br />
helpful in highlighting children’s social reasoning that underscores the need for behavioral<br />
awareness interventions that decrease harmful peer victimization and increases prosocial<br />
alternatives for resolving conflict and promoting well-being among peers.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are a variety <strong>of</strong> bullying prevention programs available, such as Expect Respect<br />
(Place, 2001), Bully Busters (Guzman, 2001), and Olweus Bullying Prevention (Olweus, 1991).<br />
<strong>The</strong> available programs focus on middle school and high school populations and include<br />
information on how to handle sexual harassment, physical aggression, and anger management. A<br />
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