Między głosem sumienia a więzami przyjaźni. Zachowanie świadków dręczenia (bullying) a struktura klasy szkolnej

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse the relation between the structure of a school-group and the problem of bullying. Bullying is a specific type of school violence, that occurs when a perpetrator or a group of perpetrators repeatedly attack a relatively helpless victim. This type of violence involves not only bullies and their victims, but also bystanders - other students who witness the process of bullying. Bullies’ behavior is planned and aimed at building social status in the group, and the suffering of the victims is not their main goal. Bystanders play a major role in the process, as their approval or disapproval can either encourage or discourage the bully. Behaviour of bystanders is analysed, with the use of a modifi ed structurally embedded coordination game, in order to show how the structure of the group can infl uence the process of bullying.