Understanding Girl Bullying and What to Do About It
Strategies to Help Heal the Divide

Edited by:

Julaine E. Field
Jered B. Kolbert - Duquesne University, USA
Laura M. Crothers
Tammy L. Hughes - Pittsburgh, USA

Other Titles in:
Anti-Bullying Strategies | School Counselling

June 2009 | 152 pages | Corwin

Girl bullying, also called relational aggression, is a very real and pervasive problem in schools. Studies show that bullying is as common in girls as it is in boys, but that it can be more covert and thus more difficult for school professionals to detect and address. This book covers the causes and characteristics of relational aggression and outlines assessment, prevention, and intervention methods for counsellors, administrators, teachers, and parents. Included are sample forms and checklists that educators can use to document and address bullying for both the perpetrator and the victim. This resource blends academic, empirical, and practical perspectives to answer the questions of:

- What girl bullying is

- Why it happens

- What it looks like

- How to measure it

- How to help girls deal with incidents

List of Tables and Figures

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Introduction

1. Understanding Relational and Social Aggression

Definitions of Relational and Social Aggression

Cyberbullying

Why Use Relational and Social Aggression?

Evolutionary Psychology

Systemic (Social and Cultural) Influences

Social Learning Theory

Developmental Perspective

What Does It Feel Like to Be in a Relationally and Socially Aggressive Climate?

Rules of Engagement

Conclusion

2. Measuring Relational and Social Aggression

Sociometric Procedures

Questionnaires and Surveys

Teacher Rating Scales and Reports

Parent Reports

Student Self-Reports

Interview Strategies

Focus Groups

Observations

Ethical Considerations in Assessment

Conclusion

3. School-Based Interventions

Factors in Selecting Interventions

Primary Prevention Programs: Support for Child Development

Secondary Intervention Programs: Schoolwide Support

Tertiary Prevention Programs: Targeted Interventions for Students

Conclusion

4. Strategies for Working With Parents and Teachers

Working With Parents of Relationally Aggressive Girls

Using Enactments With Parents of Relationally Aggressive Girls

Working with Parents of Relationally Victimized Girls

Using Enactments with Parents of Relationally Victimized Girls

Consulting With Teachers

Consulting With Teachers in Working With Girls Who Use Relational Aggression

Consulting With Teachers in Helping Relationally Victimized Girls

Conclusion

5. Goodwill Girls: A Small-Group Curriculum

Using Group Counseling With Victims and Perpetrators

The Goodwill Girls Small-Group Curriculum

Conclusion

Appendix: Handouts for Goodwill Girls Small-Group Curriculum

References

Index

“A useful tool for school counselors that outlines the root causes of girl bullying. It provides examples of ways to assess relational aggression in schools, as well as possible interventions.”

Jennifer Betters, School Counselor

Sugar Creek Elementary School, Verona, WI

“This book fills a major void in the literature and serves as a great resource for educators, mental health professionals, and parents.”

James L. Moore III, Associate Professor of Counselor Education

The Ohio State University

“This book will unquestionably help counselors do better work.”

Philip Kavanagh, Guidance Director

Lakeland Central School District, Shrub Oak, NY

“This is a well-researched book that integrates theory and research with applications.”

Carol Dahir, Associate Professor of Counselor Education

New York Institute of Technology

"This book provides useful definitions, examples, and suggestions--as well as ready-to-use surveys and small-group curriculum--making it a useful tool for a school social worker. "

Lynn R. Zakeri, School Counselor

School Social Work Journal, March 2011, Vol. 35, No. 2