Theatre skills and drama as a working tool for prevention of bullying/cyberbullying

 

Bullying happens when actions that are unwanted and aggressive behavior among school aged children (mostly) involves a real or perceived power imbalance. This problem is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems and difficulties in social interactions at an older age.

 

What is considered bullying?

The actions towards another must be aggressive and include:

• An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power sometimes as physical strength, using embarrassing information, or social status (popularity) to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people;

• It requires repetition: Bullying happens more than once or has the potential to happen more than once. In some difficult situations, bullying starts to be a part of daily life.

 

What includes bullying?

• Making threats;

• Spreading rumors;

• Attacking someone physically or verbally;

• excluding someone from a group on purpose;

• Psychological and emotional violence, etc.

 

We all know the tragic happenings in the last decade involving school shootings being proved the aggressors were once bullying victims. Over the past 30 years research reveals that bullying is one of the principal hazards to the healthy development of children.

The psychological and sociological impact of bullying on children are not only limited to school years but also continue in the later stages of life, and the risk of adulthood repercussions are high. Bullying affects both: bullies and victims.

 

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

 

Where might cyberbullying occur?

• Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok;

• Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices;

• Instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting over the internet;

• Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit;

• E-mail;

• Online gaming communities;

• School online groups.

 

What can a pedagogue do to help prevent this infamous problem?

• Surveys show that schools that are reported to have students that experience more bullying behavior are much lower than those in better schools. Increase the actions that prevent this problematic is a good maintenance politic at schools;

• Don’t apply traditional disciplinary punishments in bullying;

• Use creative drama as a vehicle and a working tool to improve communication and expression. Theatre can help very effectively with groups who are facing difficult conflicts and drama;

• Equip schools with drama tools to improve dialogue between peers;

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