Professor Ken Rigby will talk about BULLYING AND AGGRESSION
The relationship between involvement in bully/victim problems at school and the physical and mental health of children
The relationship between involvement in bully/victim problems at school and the physical and mental health of children is complex and not well understood, despite considerable research into the question. There is evidence that that poor mental health of children commonly precedes their being victimised by peers, and that generally there is a subsequent deterioration in health status. However, there are numerous exceptions that raise questions about what previous experiences and personal characteristics serve to protect some children from such eventualities. Research also indicates that the mental heath of children who continually bully others is below average in that they are generally relatively depressed, though (contrary to much speculation) are not generally low in self-esteem. This paper examines possible explanations for the reported associations and suggests ways in which children involved in bully/victim problems can be helped. This entails a consideration of both parenting and school-related factors. Especially, it focuses on the part played in ameliorating difficulties experienced by vulnerable at-risk children by enhancing social support, and applying assertiveness training and rational emotional behaviour therapy. It is further proposed that non-punitive intervention methods can be used to enlist the support of students, including those who have been involved in bullying others, to bring about an improvement in both the children’s mental heath and the distressed condition of the child who is being victimised.
Ken Rigby, University of South Australia
Ken Rigby is an Adjunct Research Professor and an educational consultant based at the University of South Australia. He was educated in England where he obtained an honours degree in Economics (London University) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Leicester University). Subsequently he worked as a teacher in schools in London and in Norfolk, (both secondary and primary) before emigrating to Australia, and finally as a School Guidance Officer.
Subsequently he was employed as a lecturer, then Associate Professor in Psychology and Research Methods at the University of South Australia. He completed a PhD in Psychology at the University of Adelaide in 1977.
Over the last fifteen years he has become a leading authority on bullying and peer victimisation with more than 100 refereed papers and other publications. His 1996 book "Bullying in schools and what to do about it" has been published in Australia, the UK and North America and is regarded as a standard text. His most recent book, Children and Bullying: How parents and educators can reduce bullying in school, published in 2008 by Blackwell, Wiley, was written largely to assist parents.
Dr Rigby has been invited to address numerous conferences and/or seminars in many countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States, Singapore, Italy, Malaysia, Korea, Ireland, Israel, Belgium, Greece and South Africa, and to provide advice on the development of anti-bullying policies and procedures. He has conducted sessions at the University of Florence and the University of Cambridge. His work in progress is focussing upon methods of addressing cases of bullying in schools.
