02 Apr In recent decades, the act of bullying has been at the center of many media stories. Stories in which, after being bullied for years, students enter a school and shoot their peers
In recent decades, the act of bullying has been at the center of many media stories. Stories in which, after being bullied for years, students enter a school and shoot their peers and teachers. Stories in which, after social media taunts and text messages, adolescents die by suicide to escape the hurt and shame. While mental health and other factors are certainly involved as well, these examples show the possible ramifications of bullying. Bullying can have a significant impact on an adolescent’s self-esteem, mental health, and identity
A CASE OF BULLYING
In recent decades, the act of bullying has been at the center of many media stories. Stories in which, after being bullied for years, students enter a school and shoot their peers and teachers. Stories in which, after social media taunts and text messages, adolescents die by suicide to escape the hurt and shame. While mental health and other factors are certainly involved as well, these examples show the possible ramifications of bullying. Bullying can have a significant impact on an adolescent’s self-esteem, mental health, and identity. So how can a social worker intervene to help adolescents work through their experiences of bullying?
In this Discussion, you take on the perspective of a social worker assisting one such adolescent.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
TO PREPARE:
· Watch the Southside Community Services video in the Learning Resources. Reflect on Amy and what she is experiencing.
· Consider the theoretical approaches, skills, and messages you would employ in working with Amy.
BY DAY 4
Post your initial response to the case:
· After watching the video, explain how bullying may affect Amy’s biological, psychological, and social development.
· Describe a theoretical approach and two practice skills that you would employ in working with Amy.
BY DAY 6
Respond to two colleagues in the following ways:
· Explain an additional theoretical approach and/or practice skill they may want to employ in working with Amy, and how this new approach or skill would complement what your colleague has already identified.
· Communicate the most important message for Amy to understand at this point in her life span. How might that message help mitigate the effects of bullying?
REFERENCES
· Zastrow, C. H., Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hessenauer, S. L. (2019). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.
· Chapter 7, “Psychological Development in Adolescence” (pp. 320–360)
· Review pp. 333–338 on moral development theories.
· “Chapter 8, “Social Development in Adolescence” (pp. 361–409)
· Brown, C. F., Demaray, M. K., Tennant, J. E., & Jenkins, L. N. (2017). Cyber victimization in high school: Measurement, overlap with face-to-face victimization, and associations with social-emotional outcomesLinks to an external site. . School Psychology Review, 46(3), 288–303. doi:10.17105/SPR-2016-0004.V46-3.
· Jenkins, L. N., Demaray, M. K., & Tennant, J. (2017). Social, emotional, and cognitive factors associated with bullyingLinks to an external site. . School Psychology Review, 46(1), 42–64.
MEDIA
Walden University, LLC. (2017–2021). Southside Community Services: Amy, episode 1 [Video file]. Walden University Blackboard. https://waldenu.instructure.com
