How Students and Teachers View the Seriousness of Peer Harassment: When Is It Appropriate to Seek Help?

Abstract

When schoolchildren are harassed by peers, it sometimes is necessary to seek help from a teacher. However, students and teachers may have a different sense of when it is necessary. The authors investigated students' perceptions of harassment and help seeking, examining whether students' perceptions are related to popularity and whether perceptions of students and teachers differ. Fourth- and 5th-grade students (classified as popular, average, or unpopular) and teachers were interviewed about different types of harassment. Unpopular children perceived teasing more seriously than teachers and other children; in fact, they said that teasing is as serious as threats and physical aggression. Children often are reluctant to seek help because they believe that doing so will not resolve and may exacerbate the situation; unpopular children in particular fear retribution from the perpetrator. Findings suggest that unpopular children are at risk when teachers do not share their sensitivity regarding danger and the need for help.