Montgomery County Cyberbullying/Bullying Task Force - Horsham ...

Background and Definitions
Bullying is a serious problem in homes, schools and communities; however, there is strong evidence
that young people often do not report bullying to adults. Research clearly indicates bullying is a
learned behavior and detrimental to the academic, physical, social and emotional development of all
involved – bullies, targets and bystanders who witness it. Despite volumes of research, countless “antibullying”
programs and increased scrutiny by the media, bullying continues to pervade our culture and
our schools. It is a complex social issue requiring determination, leadership and courage to address. A
wave of recent bullying incidents with tragic outcomes has shed a renewed light on the issue. The
advent of technology allowing for impulsive, anonymous and rapid communication has expanded the
opportunities for bullying to a degree that necessitates more innovative and immediate responses than
ever before. 1
Bullying:
The Pennsylvania’s Bullying Prevention Toolkit defines bullying as “a form of aggressive behavior
that is prevalent among children and adolescents. It is characterized by three features:
1. The aggressive behavior is intentional and may be physical, verbal or nonverbal.
2. An imbalance of power exists in the relationship, such that the person who is targeted has
difficulty defending himself or herself.
3. The behavior is repeated or severe, causing distress or disruption in the target’s life. 2
Cyberbullying:
Cyberbullying is a specific form of bullying that involves technology. According to Hinduja and
Patchin, cyberbullying is “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell
phones and other electronic devices.” 3
While the definition of cyberbullying aligns with the traditional definition of bullying, the likelihood of
repeated harm from one cyberbullying incident is quite high. This is because instances of
cyberbullying can be accessed by multiple parties, forwarded to others, linked to other sites, and
revisited by targets of the aggression – resulting in repeated exposure and repeated harm.
Examples of cyberbullying may include:
• Stealing someone’s online name and using it to write nasty rumors, comments, or gossip.
• Altering someone’s message or doctoring pictures to mean something different or poke fun.
1 Berlin, Robert and Ruscitti, Darlene, Best Practices in Bullying Prevention and Intervention. A collaborative effort of the
Dupage County Regional Office of Education and State’s Attorney ‘s General Office. January 2011
www.dupage.k12.il.us/main/anti-bullying/.../BestPracticesManual.pdf
2 Pennsylvania Bullying Prevention Toolkit; Resources for Parents, Educators, and Professionals Serving Children, Youth
and Family. Center for Safe Schools, Highmark Foundation. www.SafeSchools.info/BP_Toolkit.pdf
3 Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2011). Cyberbullying: A review of the legal issues facing educators. Preventing School
Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 55(2), 71-78.
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