Mobbing in the elementary school

Definition

In the case of mobbing, a person is harassed for a long time by his fellow human beings and exposed to psychological terror, with the aim that the person leaves the corresponding institution, be it school or workplace.

Introduction

The victims of such condemnable actions are usually persons who cannot distinguish themselves in the group because of their reserved character or who differ from the others because of their origin, social status or other physical or behavioral characteristics. The circle of perpetrators is often built around a person or group of persons who can present themselves well because of their self-confidence and who have a firm and leading position in the group or school class. In many cases, the circle of “mobbers” consists of many followers who fear becoming victims themselves if they do not participate.

Mobbing begins in kindergarten and can continue throughout school and into working life. The forms are of different nature. Physical assaults such as beating, kicking, scratching, spitting and the violent removal of personal objects are just as much a part of mobbing as verbal attacks with insults, contemptuous nicknames or vulgarities.

Another important point, which also plays a special role for the health of the mobbing victim, is psychological terror. Here the person concerned is ridiculed, nasty rumors are spread, threats and bans are issued or simply ignored and treated like air. In today’s age, where more and more young people have access to the Internet at home with their own cell phones or access options, the field of cyberbullying has increased dramatically.

In Internet forums many find faster the courage to spread devaluing expressions and the inhibition threshold sinks massively. The consequences of mobbing can be very different. In the school time the character of a person is coined/shaped.

Elementary school plays an important role as the first stage. The victim role can continue when the class moves to the middle school together and can cause serious psychological damage to the victims. Bullying must be stopped as quickly as possible by the teachers.

Teachers must develop a special feeling for these situations, because many victims of bullying do not dare to actively seek help. The cooperation of the teachers with the parents of the victim and the perpetrators can prevent long-term damage and save the childhood of the affected young people. There are various points of attack to prevent bullying in elementary school.