The victim's perspective
The social identity of a person is a set of personal characteristics that are believed to be typical of someone who occupies a particular social role (Cheal, 2002). Adolescence is a time where most teenagers struggle to find their niche in life. Both self esteem (someone’s overall evaluation of their worth as a person) and self concept (unique attributes and traits) play a strong role in how they perceive their social identity (Sigelman & Rider, 2009). The transition phase that a person goes through between childhood and adulthood can be a difficult time. An adolescent is no longer a child but is also not an adult. Social development theorist Eric Erickson believed that adolescents experience a major psychosocial stage, or conflict, which he referred to as ‘identity versus role confusion’ (Sigelman & Rider, 2009). Erikson characterised adolescence as a time of “identity crisis” in which teenagers attempt to define who they are, where they are heading, and how they fit into society (Sigelman & Rider, 2009). This theory may explain why teenagers do not always have a belief of self worth, as they search to find their own identity.
An imperative time in a person’s life is adolescence (aged 13-19 years), where the brain is in an intense state of developing (Stark, 1994). This along with low self esteem can cause teenagers to over exaggerate, this includes their concept of themselves. Their brain is growing and forming all the critical parts it needs for learning, memory, planning, emotional stability and thinking, through a process called ‘frontalisation’ (World Health Organization [WHO], 2011). Self esteem tends to decrease from childhood to early adolescence as they become more realistic about their strengths and weaknesses and often unhappy in their bodily changes (Paxton et al., 2006, as cited in Sigelman & Rider, 2009 p320). When children are faced with constant taunts about their appearance or abilities they become depressed and in some cases suicidal (Stark, 1994). Self esteem can also be affected by the social context and the social comparisons an adolescent therefore makes particularly unrealistic ones (Sigelman & Rider, 2009).
The following YouTube presentation provides statistics about the prevalence of cyber bulling and how social media can be used as a channel to inflict harm to the victim. It highlights how cyber bullying impacts on a victim. My secure cyberspace (2010), is a network security portal designed to inform users how to protect themselves and their computer when using the internet. The following YouTube presentation was created by my secure cyberspace in an aim at providing statistics about the prevalence of cyber bulling. This free educational resource by Carnegie Mellon University, demonstrates how social media can be used as a channel to inflict harm to the others while highlighting how cyber bullying impacts on a victim (My secure cyberspace, 2010).
The social identity of a person is a set of personal characteristics that are believed to be typical of someone who occupies a particular social role (Cheal, 2002). Adolescence is a time where most teenagers struggle to find their niche in life. Both self esteem (someone’s overall evaluation of their worth as a person) and self concept (unique attributes and traits) play a strong role in how they perceive their social identity (Sigelman & Rider, 2009). The transition phase that a person goes through between childhood and adulthood can be a difficult time. An adolescent is no longer a child but is also not an adult. Social development theorist Eric Erickson believed that adolescents experience a major psychosocial stage, or conflict, which he referred to as ‘identity versus role confusion’ (Sigelman & Rider, 2009). Erikson characterised adolescence as a time of “identity crisis” in which teenagers attempt to define who they are, where they are heading, and how they fit into society (Sigelman & Rider, 2009). This theory may explain why teenagers do not always have a belief of self worth, as they search to find their own identity.
An imperative time in a person’s life is adolescence (aged 13-19 years), where the brain is in an intense state of developing (Stark, 1994). This along with low self esteem can cause teenagers to over exaggerate, this includes their concept of themselves. Their brain is growing and forming all the critical parts it needs for learning, memory, planning, emotional stability and thinking, through a process called ‘frontalisation’ (World Health Organization [WHO], 2011). Self esteem tends to decrease from childhood to early adolescence as they become more realistic about their strengths and weaknesses and often unhappy in their bodily changes (Paxton et al., 2006, as cited in Sigelman & Rider, 2009 p320). When children are faced with constant taunts about their appearance or abilities they become depressed and in some cases suicidal (Stark, 1994). Self esteem can also be affected by the social context and the social comparisons an adolescent therefore makes particularly unrealistic ones (Sigelman & Rider, 2009).
The following YouTube presentation provides statistics about the prevalence of cyber bulling and how social media can be used as a channel to inflict harm to the victim. It highlights how cyber bullying impacts on a victim. My secure cyberspace (2010), is a network security portal designed to inform users how to protect themselves and their computer when using the internet. The following YouTube presentation was created by my secure cyberspace in an aim at providing statistics about the prevalence of cyber bulling. This free educational resource by Carnegie Mellon University, demonstrates how social media can be used as a channel to inflict harm to the others while highlighting how cyber bullying impacts on a victim (My secure cyberspace, 2010).
The big fish –little-pond effect can cause some adolescents to be more venerable to bullying than others (Stark, 1994). Victims of bullying come under a broad banner however victims who are affected physiologically are more inclined to have low self esteem, seek peer acceptance and may also be culturally, mentally or physically different to others (U know kids, 2014). This can cause the victims to misinterpret or retaliate to messages. All of which can provide the perpetrator with further ammunition to continue with their taunts.
The following film clip imparts an important and compelling message of not to retaliate when being cyber bullied (The scybersmile foundation, 2013). Through the harrowing story of a young girl who becomes the target of online bullying, sadly there were three cyber bullying related suicides in the United Kingdom alone during the making of this clip (The scybersmile foundation, 2013). This cyber bullying awareness video ‘DONTRETALIATE’ marks the beginning of the cybersmile foundation’s (2013) global education and awareness campaign for all forms of cyber bullying. Through education, awareness and support the foundation aims to combat the growing threat of cyber bullying and create a safe digital environment (The cybersmile foundation,2013). The cybersmile foundation is a multi award winning cyber bullying charity commited to tackling all forms of online bullying (The cybersmile foundation, 2013).
Feelings a victim may endure
Feelings a victim may be having if they are being bullied:
· Feeling guilty like it is their fault.
· Feeling hopeless and stuck like they cannot get out of the situation.
· Feeling alone, like there is no one to help them.
· Feeling like they don’t fit in with the cool group.
· Feeling depressed and rejected by their friends and other groups of people.
· Feeling unsafe and afraid.
· Feeling confused and stressed out wondering what to do and why this is happening to them.
· Feeling ashamed that this is happening to them.
(Australian human rights commission, 2011).
Feelings a victim may be having if they are being bullied:
· Feeling guilty like it is their fault.
· Feeling hopeless and stuck like they cannot get out of the situation.
· Feeling alone, like there is no one to help them.
· Feeling like they don’t fit in with the cool group.
· Feeling depressed and rejected by their friends and other groups of people.
· Feeling unsafe and afraid.
· Feeling confused and stressed out wondering what to do and why this is happening to them.
· Feeling ashamed that this is happening to them.
(Australian human rights commission, 2011).