Guidelines

At first sight, bullying can be seen as a simple phenomenon of aggression by a pupil or group of pupils towards other pupils or group of pupils. However, it is more complex than that. Bullying is a problem of psycho-social nature that is sustained by two rules: the rule of dominion-submission and the rule of silence. The Dominion-submission rule can be explained in the fact that the link that is established between the pupils involved does not follow any expected equality and symmetry. Silence is also a particular rule of peer relations, as it is of common thought that things that happen between pupils must be kept among them. As a matter of fact, it is not well thought of by peers to inform adults about bullying episodes, and the informant is seen by his/her mates as a snitch. Moreover, over the last years a new form of bullying has appeared due to the use of the ICT and virtual social networks that must be also understood. Accordingly, before acting against bullying we must understand:

• The characteristics of the phenomenon
• The roles that are implied
• The rules that facilitate and sustain it
• The direct and indirect forms that it may adopt