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

The best option is for Emma and her friends to intervene by defending Mandy. Research has shown that bystander intervention is an effective way to reduce bullying behavior, as it signals to the bully that their behavior will not be tolerated and helps to support the victim. Emma and her friends can speak up for Mandy when they witness bullying, report the behavior to a teacher or school administrator, and offer support to Mandy to help her feel less isolated and alone. Ignoring the bullying behavior (A), befriending the bully (B), or engaging in indirect forms of aggression (C) are not effective strategies and may even worsen the situation.

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