Bully tactics in infant classes

In infant classes, bullies are most likely to be seen excluding their victims by not letting them join in with games or group activities, and actively telling them that they ‘can’t play’.

These are the findings of research presented on Tuesday 7 September 1999, by Claire Monks and Professor Peter Smith of Goldsmiths College, London and Dr John Swettenham of University College, London, at The British Psychological Society’s Developmental Section Conference, held at University of Nottingham.

The researchers interviewed 104 children aged between four and six, using cartoons as a tool to ask the children to nominate their peers for various roles. Peers were classified as either a bully, a victim or a defender. Children who were not nominated for any of these categories were classed as bystanders.

The results showed that more boys were bullies and that more girls chose to take on a bystander role. In this age group bullies tend to be socially rejected children. The key to popularity is to be nominated as a defender rather than a bully or a bystander.

Ms Monks said, “At this age, bullies are less likely to use sophisticated methods, such as spreading rumours. They are more likely to include physical bullying and name-calling. The research shows that age appropriate bullying interventions should be tailored to involve the class as a whole and to take into account the range of different bullying strategies.”