Copyright Malvin Porter, Jr. 2010 - acumen - The University of ...

Joseph, 1994; Pellegrini, Bartini, & Brooks, 1999; Perry et al., 1988). Studies have found that
chronic peer exclusion and chronic peer abuse mediated the link between children’s early peer
rejection, later classroom engagement, and achievement (Buhs, Ladd, & Herald, 2006).
Types of Victimization
Cullertson-Sen and Crick (2005) noted that much of the work on peer victimization has
focused on overt and instrumental aggression such as physical or verbal aggression that involves
hitting, pushing, teasing, and being called mean names. The more prevalent types of bullying
among young school-aged children appear to be overt, which includes physical, verbal and
nonverbal behaviors (Putallaz et al., 2007; Slavens, 2004). Physical bullying involves doing
physical harm to another person. Examples include hitting, biting, kicking, pushing, bumping,
intimidating, threatening, throwing things, removing and hiding belongings, and damaging
property (Administration, 2004a; Jackson, 2002; Rigby, 2002a; Slavens, 2004). Verbal bullying
includes verbal abuse designed to generate strong emotional responses from victims and to
diminish their self-esteem. Examples include name-calling, teasing and taunting beyond playful
limits, insulting, criticizing, engaging in sarcasm, persuading another person to criticize or insult,
spreading rumors, and making anonymous phone calls or sending e-mail or notes that convey a
hurtful message (Rigby, 2002a; Slavens, 2004). Nonverbal bullying includes gesturing and
exhibiting expressions intended to threaten or intimidate the victim. Examples include obscene
gestures, menacing stares, deliberately turning away, and averting gazes designed to intentionally
ignore and/or exclude the victim (Rigby, 2002a).
While much research has concentrated on overt physical bullying, many recent studies
have focused on relational forms of aggression (Putallaz et al., 2007; Slavens, 2004). Cullerton-
Sen et al. (2008) describe relational victimization as overt and covert behaviors that intentionally
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