Aggression in the Schools

Bullies and Whipping Boys
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-36264-7
Verlag: Taylor & Francis

Buch, Englisch, 234 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm

Reihe: Psychology Revivals

Originally published in 1978, Aggression in the Schools: Bullies and Whipping Boys is widely considered to be the first scientific study of bullying. This was an investigation of a largely hidden and neglected problem in schools at the time – some children, whipping boys, were exposed over long periods of time to violence perpetrated by other children, bullies.

Based on five separate empirical studies involving approximately 1,000 boys 12–16 years old, this book analyzes the alarmingly high percentage of boys who had been classified as either whipping boys or bullies. Some aspects considered include the facets of the aggressive personality and the social-psychological mechanisms that cause several boys to take part in the oppression. Also discussed are the reduction of aggression inhibitions, cognitive changes, the distribution of personality, the role of the school, and the factors that determine predisposition to whipping boy or bully behavior.

Most significantly, a highly comprehensive program of change is proposed, which was based on utilizing the existing social environment of boys. The program consisted of a series of coordinated actions on the part of the school authorities, teachers, educational and school psychologists, welfare officers, pupils, and parents.

This important book led, in part, to the First National Campaign against Bullying in Norway. Today it can be read in its historical context.

Zielgruppe

Adult education, General, and Postgraduate

Autoren/Hrsg.

Olweus, Dan

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Gewalt und Diskriminierung: Soziale Aspekte
• Sozialwissenschaften Psychologie Allgemeine Psychologie Kognitionspsychologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Pädagogik Pädagogik Bildungswesen: Organisation und Verwaltung
• Sozialwissenschaften Psychologie Psychologie / Allgemeines & Theorie Geschichte der Psychologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Pädagogik Schulen, Schulleitung Schulleitung, Schulentwicklung Konflikte, Gewalt, Mobbing: Prävention und Bewältigung
• Sozialwissenschaften Psychologie Allgemeine Psychologie Entwicklungspsychologie Kinder- und Jugendpsychologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Foreword. Preface. 1. Background and Some Debatable Questions 2. A Theory Sketch 3. Methods and Subjects – Overview 4. Incidence of Whipping Boy/Bully Problems 5. Whipping Boy/Bully Problems and Factors in the School Setting 6. External Deviations 7. Psychological and Other Characteristics of Whipping Boys and Bullies 8. An Overall Picture of Whipping Boy/Bully Problems 9. What Can Be Done? Appendix. References. Author Index. Subject Index.

Über Autor(innen)

Dan Olweus (1931–2020) had at this stage done extensive work and research in the field of aggressive behavior and went on to be widely recognized as a pioneer of research on bullying. He received an award for presenting the most outstanding contribution at the Paris meeting of the International Society for Research on Aggression in 1976. From 1962 to 1970 he served as the Director of the Erica Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. He was, at the time of original publication, a professor of psychology at the University of Bergen, Norway.