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23-27 August, 2011
Special Events
Cyberbullying: an over-estimated phenomenon
Wednesday 24.8, 08.30-10.00, Peer Gynt
Round-table discussion with an introductory statement from Dan Olweus. Chaired by Christiane
Spiel
With the increase and diffusion of modern technologies a new form of bullying has emerged. Many
researchers refer to these new forms with the term Cyberbullying, Electronic Bullying or Internet
Bullying. Studies on the impact of the new phenomenon and its possible links with traditional
bullying show some consistency in findings e.g., that those who are traditional bullies and victims
have a higher probability for being also cyberbullies and cybervictims than other students. The age
of adolescence was shown to be the most at risk period for cyberbullying. However, it is of concern
that many issues, approaches and findings are inconsistent, and furthermore, that many relevant
topics have not yet been investigated at all. Also, it might be questioned whether cyberbullying is a
specific form of bullying as e.g., verbal bullying, or a distinct phenomenon. Consequently, it needs
to be considered whether cyberbullying fulfils the definition of bullying concerning all criteria. Above
all, it might be discussed whether the high interest of researchers in cyberbullying is justified, or
whether cyberbullying is an over-estimated phenomenon.
The round table discussion chaired by Christiane Spiel (University of Vienna, Austria) focuses on
these topics. Participants are: Sheri Bauman (University of Tuscon, USA), Ernesilia Menesini
(University of Florence, Italy), Dan Olweus (University of Bergen, Norway), Christina Salmivalli
(University of Turku, Finland), Peter K. Smith (Goldsmith College, London, U.K.). Dan Olweus gives
an introductory statement.
ECDP 2011 Social Bond Session: The Impacts of Earthquake, Tsunami, & Nuclear
Accident: Japanese Experience and Mission of Academics
Wednesday 24, 18.45 - 19.30, Peer Gynt
co-Chairs: Yuichi Toda (Osaka University of Education, professor) & Christiane Spiel (University of
Vienna, professor)
This Social Bond Session was scheduled owing to special considerations and efforts by the
president of ECDP, the congress organiser, and many colleagues. In this session, we would like to
share academic wisdoms to recover from the devastative disasters and prepare buffers for the next.
The discussion should be focused upon (1) Damages on academic environments, (2)
Responsibilities of developmental psychologists in such a situation, and (3) What we should do in
the future.
What have earthquake survivors experienced in Sendai (Tetsuji KAMIYA, Tohoku University)
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