The ABCs of Bullying
Addressing, Blocking, and Curbing School Aggression
The Role of Self-Esteem
There are conflicting data regarding the self-esteem of bullies. Dr. Mona O'Moore studied more than 8,000 children and found children who have been bullied, children who bully others, and children who were both bullied and who bullied others had significantly lower global self-esteem than did children who had neither bullied or been bullied. The children who both bullied and were bullied had the lowest self-esteem of all.ref
There are bullies who appear to have self-esteem, but in truth are self-centered, narcissistic, and impressed with the power showered upon them. Ervin Stuab, Ph.D., professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, says that "the self-esteem of aggressive boys appears to be very vulnerable, very fragile. Its maintenance requires specific circumstances and behaviors on their part. This raises the question whether we can consider it a genuine positive self-esteem."ref Popularity is often only skin deep, because most bullies' friendships are based on fear, not respect.ref
- Internet bulletin board posting at a private girl school.ref
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Last Updated: 5/19/04
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