Bullying as a group process: An adaptation of the participant role approach

Recent years have seen a shift in bullying research from a dyadic focus on the characteristics of the Bully and the Victim to the recognition of bully ing as a whole group process, with the majority of children playing some ki nd of role, This study uses a shortened adaptation of the Participant Role Scale approach [Salmivalli et al. 1996, Aggr Behav 22:1-15] to identify the se roles in 193 children aged 7 to 10 years. Four main factors were identif ied, indicating that the adapted scale remains a reliable way of distinguis hing the Victim, Defender of the victim, and Outsider roles both from each other and from roles involved in bullying others. Progress in the measureme nt of bullying as a group process and the success of intervention strategie s may depend on finding clearer distinctions between ringleader Bullies and the children that help them or reinforce their behavior, using the Partici pant Role Scale approach to mobilize peer pressure and isolate ringleaders from their social support. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.