The children who observe represent the key point in the display of the bullying phenomenon. Their behavior may facilitate or inhibit the display of the phenomenon.
The expected reactions of the other children are:
● to laugh
● to smile
● to be indifferent
● to talk to their neighbor and to comment the event in a positive or negative way
● to just watch and do nothing at all.
The specific reactions amplify the behavior of the child who bullies, as when the others laugh/smile or comment the event, it means he has managed to catch their attention.
To the other reactions of indifference/ inaction he either pays no attention or he intensifies his bully behavior toward that child in order to “win” them also.
On the other hand the specific reactions significantly affect the child who is bullied. The laugh, the smile, the indifference and the inaction amplify the loneliness of the child and secondly validate the act of the child who bullies thus enhancing the guilt of the child.
Also talking about the event enhances the feelings of shame and solitude of the child.
The project is funded by European Union's Programme Daphne III . 