Victimization event/Victim standpoint

Bullying Of Amanda Todd
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Table of Contents
 TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc352313329"
1.0 Introduction  PAGEREF _Toc352313329 \h
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2.0 Background to Amanda Todd’s bullying  PAGEREF _Toc352313330 \h
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3.0 Cyber bullying  PAGEREF _Toc352313331 \h
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4.0 Prevalence of cyber bullying  PAGEREF _Toc352313332 \h
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5.0 Victimization theories  PAGEREF _Toc352313333 \h
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6.0 Intervention strategies  PAGEREF _Toc352313334 \h
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7.0 Relevance of studying cyber bullying  PAGEREF _Toc352313335 \h
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8.0 Conclusion  PAGEREF _Toc352313336 \h
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9.0 References  PAGEREF _Toc352313337 \h
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Abstract
Studies suggest that bullying has harmful effects on the emotional and physical status of victims, and with emergence of cyber bullying it is clear that there is a need to use better intervention strategies. This paper highlighted on the case of Amanda Todd, a teenage Canadian girl who committed suicide after vicious cyber bullying incidents over a period extending more than two years. To understand the association between victimization and cyber bullying, the study further focussed on various theories of victimization. From Todd’s case study it is likely that as the bullying continued her mental health deteriorated as students began to distance themselves from Todd, leading to social isolation. Even though, her parents understood the extent of the problem she could not cope in school, and this paper proposes that counselling sessions ought to offer training on how to identify and reduce prevalence of cyberbullying. Essentially, both teachers and parents ought to have knowledge on cyber bullying and provide open communication for there to be effective strategies on cyberbullying. BULLYING OF AMANDA TODD
Introduction
For professional counsellors cyber bullying is an emerging subject matter that requires urgent attention with risk factors to cyber bullying now a top priority as school counsellors and parents try numerous intervention strategies. Bullying connotes those acts that lead to harm in victims through physical, social or verbal ways through the actions of a perpetrator or bully. In addition, the power imbalance leads to bullying as he acts can only be termed as bullying when they are repeated numerous times. Because cyber bullying is a new phenomenon there are few studies that look into the impact of cyber bullying on the emotional and psychological wellbeing of victims.
Background to Amanda Todd’s bullying
Following vicious online bullying, Amanda Todd committed suicide in 2012 at her parent’s home in British Columbia Canada. Prior to her death Todd uploaded a video talking of her struggles over two years in which cyber bully targeted her, to the extent of changing schools many times. The teenager was in school that catered for students who had experienced previous behavioural and social issues. In the video Todd said that she had a chat with someone in Grade 7 in which she flashed to the camera, the perpetrator began by complimenting her good looks which probably led to her to expose her body (Grenoble, 2012).
Later on the man started blackmailing her and issuing threats that he would spread the semi nude photo over the internet. The threats materialized as the photo became freely available on the internet as reported by the police the following year. Consequently, Todd began experiencing depressive moods and anxiety leading to change of residence by her parents. However, the online attacks did not end and she reportedly started indulging in drugs and alcohol (Grenoble, 2012). In her new school things became worse after a face book page appeared with her semi nude photo. She changed schools again, but was involved in a bitter feud with fellow school girls after reports emerged that she got involved with another girl’s boyfriend, later on vicious physical attacks from a group of girls Todd made her to attempt suicide, but she was promptly rushed to hospital.
Cyber bullying
Teenagers with symptoms of clinical depression tend to report higher cases of internet harassment than their peers. Even though, there are more extensive researches on psychological impact of bullying, it is plausible that victims of bullying and cyber bullying are likely to report similar effects from victimization and bullying (Rigby, 2003). The main difference between traditional bullying and cyber bullying is that victims in cyber bullying have no where to turn to, but in traditional bullying victimization typically occurs when there is face to face confrontation and takes place for limited time. In their homes, most bullies typically pose no threats to their victims, but with internet availability cyber bullies can harm victims at the comfort of their homes.
Both victimization and bullying are related to each other as they involve the power relations between a victim and the perpetrator (Rigby, 2003). In the case of Todd, it is clear that she was a naïve young girl who was deceived by a more cunning mature male offender. After having access to the photo it was possible to bring bullying as this gave him power over the victim. Even after changing schools many times, the perpetrator was able to track down Todd and continued to torment her. Essentially, people with almost equal power are less likely to experience bullying between them as none has power over the other. On the other hand, the more power a person has the more likely they are to exert threats on the less powerful individuals.
School bullying is the most common type of bullying where both the victim and perpetrator tend to know each other (Shariff, 2008). On the contrary, cyber bullying can be more vicious as the victims do not typically know the offenders. Cyber bullying occurs through on line media as there has been increased internet penetration and increased use of mobile phones. However, cyber bullying also differs from school bullying as it can occur any where and at any time with acts likely to go on for long. With the anonymity of the internet perpetrators can continue with the act of bullying as there are less likely to face punishment, while they do not see the reactions of the victims, and so cyber bullying tends to have long lasting psychological effects.
Other social and psychological problems are also common among cyber bully victims including social isolation, low self esteem and loneliness (Shariff, 2008). In addition, the mental status of the victim is more likely to be low, and hence victims may have suicidal thoughts and engage in self harming like in the case of Todd who finally committed suicide and had previous experiences with self harming. However, unlike traditional bullying where victims or witnesses to acts of bullying can report them, in cyber bullying victims are less likely to seek help whereby these cases may remain undetected for long. With low self esteem victims tend to isolate themselves from their peers which lead to social isolation making it likely that for school bullying to occur simultaneously with cyber bullying.
For counsellors and parents in search for possible signs of cyber bullying, then there is a need to identify the psychological effects of bullying and victimization which typically occur through deterioration in both academic performance and physical health. The manifestation of these features occurs through internalization of depressive feelings, loneliness and anxiety because of continued victimization. Thus, they are likely to be less engaged in school activities leading to fall in their school performance. With increased stress levels, anxiety and depression the immunity system of the victim falls making them susceptible to diseases, at the same time they are less likely to concentrate on school work including skipping schools.
Prevalence of cyber bullying
Studies suggest that cyber bullying is a common scenario among the youth, but the incidence rates vary depending on the socio demographic group, age, period of the study, method of data collection and the definition of what constitutes cyber bullying ( Bauman et al, 2013). Because of these differences there are also divergent results on cyberbullying, but the average victimization rate conducted from numerous journal articles was 24.4%. Even though, it is difficult to get consistent prevalence rates of cyber bullying, the studies highlight that cyberbullying is the most common risk for online interaction in minors. However, most studies suggest that the rates of non cyberbullying tend to be higher than cyber bullying (Bauman et al., 2013)
With increased use of cell phones and computers by teenagers cyber bullying has become more complex s there are many features of information technology than earlier times. In a study conducted in America by Kowalski and Limber (2007) 22% of adolescents reported having experienced cyber bullying with 11 % being victims as quoted by (Wang et al., 2009). In terms of gender boys were more likely to be cyber bullies, while girls were more likely to be the victims, but there are few studies that highlight on other demographic trends of cyber bullying. However, the prevalence of cyber bullying was also related to risk factors including friends and parental roles. The role of strong parenting roles cannot be overemphasized as this offers protective measures against all forms of bullying.
Victimization theories
Earlier studies on victimization tended to focus on the role of the criminal in perpetuating criminal offence. However, with time it has been vital to look into the victim’s role as this may determine the behavior of the offender. Consequently, there are numerous theories that focus on the causes and nature of victimization. However, since the 1960’s there has been a gradual shift towards adoption of victimization theories as opposed to earlier eras where the criminal justice system merely focussed on criminal offences (Wilcox, 2010). The occurrence of crime appears through a system that involves both the offender and the Victim viewed foam a time and place framework that perpetuates victimization.
To give credence to this approach was the use of better data compilation and new information. In essence, the gathering of large amounts of data a facilitated further analysis than earlier times with focus shifting to ...