THE PERCEIVED ROLES OF BULLYING IN SMALL-TOWN MIDWESTERN SCHOOLS

Middle and high school students (N=207) in small-town midwestern schoo ls were surveyed regarding factors that motivate and sustain bullying. Students failed to endorse statements that bullying teaches about beh avior unacceptable to the group and that making friends with a bullied person would result in lowering one's social status. Students agreed that victims brought it on themselves, teasing was mostly done in fun, and that bullying helps people by making them tougher. Girls, but not boys, tended to agree that bullies held higher social status than did victims.