Emma is a 12-year-old girl who has been watching her friend Mandy get bullied at school. Emma and her friends are worried about Mandy and want to stop the bullying. Given the research on bullying, what would you recommend that Emma and her friends do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Research on bullying has shown that the most effective way to stop bullying is to intervene by defending the victim. Emma and her friends should speak up and tell the bully that their behavior is not acceptable and that it needs to stop. They can do this by speaking directly to the bully or by reporting the behavior to a teacher or school counselor. Ignoring the bullying behavior or engaging in indirect forms of aggression (such as spreading rumors or gossip) are not effective ways to stop bullying. Befriending the bully may not be possible or safe and may not actually result in the bullying stopping.

Emma Is a 12-Year-Old Girl Who Has Been Watching Her