ERIC Number: EJ1260574
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1454-7678
EISSN: N/A
Self-Esteem -- The Decisive Difference between Bullying and Assertiveness in Adolescence?
Darjan, Ioana; Negru, Mihaela; Ilie, Dan
Journal of Educational Sciences, v21 n1(41) p19-34 2020
The extensive literature and research on bullying illustrates the connections between self-esteem and the bullying phenomenon, asserting that both faces, bullying, and being bullied are related to some degrees with low self-esteem. Considering the bullying behavior as a form of aggressivity and being bullied as an expression of passive behavior, this study introduces the third subject of inquiry: the assertive behavior. The study investigates the impact of self-esteem on assertiveness, passive vs. aggressive conduct, and positive interactions among high school students. While these aspects were usually investigated at an early age, this study approaches them in adolescence, involving 82 adolescent students from high schools from Timisoara, with diverse specializations. The need to fit, the need for acceptance, and the fear of social rejection increase in adolescence. At this age of dramatic changes, students are susceptible to verbal, physical, or emotional bullying, with an essential impact on their self-esteem, as they are very dependent on peers' approval, perceptions and reactions. Healthy self-esteem and assertiveness might be powerful tools to fight against bullying, but there is very little focus on teaching them in traditional education. This study shows the strong correlation between self-esteem and assertiveness, and the predisposition of students with low self-esteem to passive or aggressive types of interactions.
Descriptors: Self Esteem, Bullying, Assertiveness, High School Students, Student Behavior, Peer Relationship, Self Concept Measures, Foreign Countries
West University of Timisoara Department of Educational Sciences. Bd. V. Parvan 4, Timisoara, Timis 300223, Romania. Tel: +40-256-592111; e-mail: resjournal@e-uvt.ro; Web site: https://rse.uvt.ro/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Romania
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A