Preliminary communication
Some Characteristics of Passive and Provocative Victims of Bullying
Bruna PROFACA
Sena PUHOVSKI
Jadranka LUCA MRĐEN
Abstract
Bullying is defined as repetitive or long-term exposure of the
child to negative behaviors of other child or children
(Olweus, 1998). Data concerning this problem in our country
is still very rare. The aim of this research was to see which
are the characteristics of children who are victims of bullying,
and are there differences between the two groups of victims – passive and provocative. The measure used in the research
was Questionnaire of school violence (U[N – 2003) which
was developed for a bigger research done by the Center for
child protection in Zagreb. Participants in research were
children aged 10 – 14 (N= 1058) who were victims of
bullying. The results show that there is no difference in the
number of boys and girls in the group of passive victims but
the provocative victims are more often boys. Between
younger children there is no difference in the number of
passive and provocative victims but in higher grades (older
children) there are more provocative victims. Provocative
victims feel worse in school, but not less accepted than
passive victims. There are significant differences in the way in
which these two groups of children deal with violence
towards them. Provocative victims use significantly less
successful and more socially inappropriate strategies to
protect themselves from bullying. Provocative victims are
more likely to react aggressively to violence or to keep it to
themselves while passive victims more often ask for the help
and protection of adults. The results show that it is important
to keep in mind the differences between these two groups of
children when creating prevention and intervention
programs.
Keywords
bullying; victims; bully/victims
Hrčak ID:
18290
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2006.
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