Bullying Among the Gifted: The Subjective Experience

Abstract

One portion of a national study of bullying, which surveyed gifted 8th graders regarding bullying during their school years ( N = 432), used structured interviews ( N = 57) to explore the lived experience of being bullied or being a bully. Qualitative analysis of interview data found that even just one incident was highly distressing for some. Also important are the findings that many victims suffered in silence, struggled to understand bullying, assumed responsibility for stopping it themselves, despaired when it continues, and thought violent thoughts. Intelligence appeared to have helped most of those interviewed to make sense of bullying, including those who had intentionally halted their own bullying. Many subjects believed that not being known contributed to being bullied. Helping students to make social connections and adjustments, especially during the early middle school years, may be crucial to their well-being and to their feeling safe in school.

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