Anti Bullying Interventions in Schools Assignment

Assignment Task

Background

In recent years, aggression in schools in general and bullying, in particular, has attracted a zero-tolerance approach (Hawley & Williford, 2015). Measures that appear to address the issue of bullying may have short-term appeal (i.e., something is being done) but may lack long-term efficacy (Hawley & Williford, 2015). This lack of long-term change is reflected in small reductions in "traditional forms of bullying" and an increasing prevalence of online bullying (Hymel, 2015, p. 16).

The proposition of prevention and intervention on theoretical grounds is based on this being more efficacious. Indeed, some current programs that are not theoretically based have shown mixed results in reducing the occurrence of bullying (Hawley & Williford, 2015).

Your Task

You are a psychologist appointed as a consultant to a primary school with approximately 40 children ranging in age from 9 to 12 years old. In meetings with staff and from your own observations, you identify several problems with bullying and discipline. Staff and parent complaints indicate a culture of bullying, with some children forming 'gangs' that prey on younger children. In one incident, an older child demanded a younger child's lunch. The 'bully's' peers, stood by and watched and then high-fived the bully when he acquired the lunch. Most concerningly, there is also evidence of conflict between parents that the children often witness. The school has segregated the children into age groups to reduce their interactions during school hours to address the situation. Children deemed to behave receive special privileges; others considered 'a problem' do not.

Choose a theoretical orientation below and design an intervention to address the problems identified. You will need to choose either a developmental or social psychological perspective. Based on this perspective, write a report to the primary school' s Headmaster. Your report should contain the following sections (please use these headings in your report) and cite at least two research articles that provide empirical support for your plan.

Introduction

Describe the problems you have observed and the impact on the school's functioning and well-being of the children. For example, if you take a developmental perspective, using your knowledge of child development, what are the possible consequences for children of a poorly run school? If you are taking a social psychological perspective, what are the possible consequences of this group-based behaviour?

Describe the context of the primary school. In your answer, you may consider parenting factors, the area's socioeconomic status, staffing levels (teacher-child ratio), the facilities at the school, and its cultural context. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and while we have not included this information above, you may create the school as part of your task.

Theoretical background

You have a choice between two theoretical backgrounds for your intervention. You must choose either a developmental or social psychological theory.

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