Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presented the related literature that shed light to the study.

This review of literature was designed to explore critically the different forms of

experiences in cyberbullying, effects of cyberbullying and the related literature or

study.

Theoretical Lens

Barlett and Gentile Cyberbullying Model

Cyberbullying perpetration has emerged as a world-wide societal issue;

however, the majority of the research testing the predictors of cyberbullying

behavior and the interventions that claim to reduce cyberbullying have

inadequately applied sound theoretical reasoning. Toassist education

administrators, intervention specialists, social scientists, and others, it was

postulated of a recently developed theory that is unique to cyberbullying – the

Barlett and Gentile Cyberbullying Model (BGCM). Specifically, we delve into the

need for such a theory and how other similar theories may be inadequate in

predicting cyberbullying above and beyond traditional bullying. Then we describe

the learning-based theoretical foundation that helped to build the BGCM before

reviewing research that validates such theoretical tenants. Finally, we conclude

with how the BGCM can inform intervention efforts to hopefully reduce

cyberbullying.(Elsevier,2017)
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Cyberbullying is a practice where an individual or group uses the internet

to ridicule, harass or harm another person. The social and emotional harm

inflicted by cyberbullies grows out of –or leads to physical bullying in the offline

world. A cyberbullying can be considered as a distinct phenomenon or as a sub-

form bullying with electronics devices. It involves the use of information and

communication technologies to cause harm to others.( Saylor,2012)

According to Besley (2013),states that cyberbullying involves the use of

information and communication technologies, such as e-mail, cellphone and

pager text messages ,instant messaging, defamatory personnel websites and

defamatory online personal polling websites, to support deliberate ,repeated and

hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others.

Different Forms of Experiences in Cyberbullying

According to Besley (2014), asserts that cyberbullying differs to traditional

bullying by a way of extending the use of traditional types of bullying behaviors

with the use of new technologies. Although the different types of cyberbullying

are currently not well understood, researchers are starting to make distinctions

between methods by which cyber bullying is carried such as: flaming, online

harassment, Identify theft, Outing, Exclusion/Ostracism, Misinformation,

Cyberstalking, Happy lapping, Sexting. Flaming refers to a type of cyberbullying

that typically occurs in public online forums, discussions rooms and chat rooms

when individuals or groups become the target of angry and rude messages via

electronic means ,if continual argument persist, usually including rude and vulgar

language the a ‘Flame war’ has begun.(Hinduja,2011). Online harassment has

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been defined as repeated or persistent aggressive text messaging or e-mailing,

which is directed at a specific target for the purpose of annoying or hurting

someone. This is sometimes also referred to as a ‘Text war ’. (Patchin, 2012).

Identity theft occurs when a perpetrator pretends to be another person and either

hacks or obtains the password of their target’s account, and sends hurtful and

harmful information to the friends or the target examples include students posting

untrue and hurtful information about their targets on slam books for others to

read, a digitally altering photos to make a target look ugly or fat on purpose.

(Kowalski, 2015).Outing refers to sending or posting personal and private

information that was meant to be kept secret and should have not been leaked

online.(George,2013).Exclusion/Ostracism can commonly occur where a target

can be blocked or deleted off friend list, excluded from an online group or friends

purposely do not respond to text or email.(Kowalski,2015).Misinformation refers

to the spreading of untrue and damaging information about another through

posts on web pages, slam books, emails, text messages or via instant

messaging. Examples include students posting untrue and hurtful information

about their targets and digitally altering photos to make a target look unattractive.

(Roger, 2011).Cyber Stalking takes harassment to another level and usually

involves repetitive threats, lurking and intimidation. For example a student may

receive an anonymous email containing threats to physical hurt or spy on that

student. (Li, 2016).Happy Slapping is a relatively new cyber bullying term which

occurs when perpetrators intentionally bully, hit, assault or make fun of other

targets whilst being video recorded for the sole purpose of leaking the video on a
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public websites and/or sending the video via email, internet, or mobile phone for

others to view .(Maximus, 2014).Sexting can be defined as the practice of

sending sexual images such as nude or partially nude photos of the targets or

themselves ,through mobile phone picture messaging to other students to

view.(Ballistic,2011)

Effects of Cyberbullying

The latest study of Gardner (2015), states that victims of cyberbullying

can have lasting emotional, concentration and behavioural issues. Cyberbullying

carried such as: emotional and physical effects, oeel Overwhelmed, Feel

Vulnerable and powerless. Feel exposed and humiliated,Feel dissatisfied with

who they are,Feel angry and vengeful.

The emotional and physical effects may bleed into their social lives as

they encounter more trouble getting along with others. They experience trust

issues and are more likely to abuse alcohol or drugs at an earlier age. Victims of

Cyberbullying can develop dangerous stigmas, and experience harmful shame

from their peers.

Feel Overwhelmed is being targeted by cyberbullies is crushing especially

if a lot of kids are participating in the bullying. It can feel at times like the entire

world knows what it is going on. Sometimes the stress of dealing with

cyberbullying can cause kids to feel like the situation is more than they can

handle. Feel Vulnerable and powerless it can be victims of cyberbullying often

find it difficult to feel safe. Typically, this is because the bullying can invade their
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home through a computer or cellphone at anytime of day. They no longer have a

place where they can escape. To a victim, it feels like the bullying is everywhere.

Additionally, because the bullies can remain anonymous, this can escalate

feelings or fear. Kids who are targeted have no idea who is inflicting the pain.

Although some cyberbullies choose people they know. Feel exposed and

humiliated it is cyberbullying occurs in cyberspace, online bullying feels

permanent. Kids know that once something is out there, it will always be out

there. Why cyberbullying occurs, the nasty posts, messages or text can be

shared with multitudes of people. The sheer volume of people that know about

the bullying can lead to intense feelings of humiliation. Feel dissatisfied with who

they are. Cyberbullying often attacks victims where they are most vulnerable. As

a result, targets of cyberbullying often begin to doubt their worth and value. They

may respond to these feelings by harming themselves in some way. For instance

if a girl is called fat, she may begin a crash diet with the belief that if she alters

how she looks then the bullying will stop. Other times victims will try to change

something about their appearance of attitude in order to avoid additional

cyberbullying. Feel angry and vengeful. Sometimes victims of cyberbullying will

get angry about what is happening to them. As a result, they plot revenge and

engage in retaliation. This approach is dangerous because it keeps them locked

in the bully-victim cycle. It is always better to forgive a bully than it is to get even.

Most of students who are bullied do not report their experiences to adults.

.This was true 30 years ago when endured middle school and our research

shows it largely continues to this day. Since then Sameer surveyed more than
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20,000 middle and high school students from around the United States. In every

one of those studies we ask students who they told about it. Most often over the

years, students tell us that when they do tell someone about being bullied, it is

friend. In 2010, there are about being 4,500 students, 39% told a friend

(compared to 18% who told a parent).But something changed in our most recent

survey (from late 2016).Recently it appears atleast , more students are turning to

adults when they are bullied or cyberbullied.(Clinton,2016)

In conclusion, with the expansion of the internet and social networking

technologies cyber-bullying is becoming more common and more severe. The

information presented in this research paper should give people a better

understanding of what cyber-bully is, how harmful they can be really be, and how

to prevent cyber-bullying from happening. This paper can be used to help victims

realize they are not alone and should not give in to a bully’s dangerous

behaviour’s. This research paper is to inform society about what has been going

on lately and how unacceptable and dangerous it is. Youths are killing

themselves over photos, web posts, and videos posted by bullies using the

internet. Cyber-bullying is technology powered and will only get worse as

technology becomes more widespread. Studies indicate that cyber-bullying

incidents have quadrupled in this era. The fact of the matter is, technology is not

going anywhere, so we need to figure out a way to put an end to cyber-bullies.

Cyber-bullying is becoming a major problem and well need to do our parts in

figuring out what can be done to stop cyber-bullies in their tracks. Cyber-bullies

will continue to be a threat to today’s youth until we take preventative measures

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against them. Hopefully, this paper will help to inform today’s youth and parents.

If you see any kind of bullying happening in front of you, stop it if possible, and

then report it.

Related Studies

Johnson and Birmingham (2012) conducted a research focusing on face

to face bullying suggests that the period of adolescences can provide a particular

acute phase of this type of behaviors. Furthermore, it is also suggested that

significant social changes related to students moving from high school to college

schooling can also be a factor. This transition of schooling can result in changes

in students peer group availability, individuals’ standing within groups and lack of

peer support as students move to larger and typically more impersonal school

settings. This phase is disruption in social networks can ultimately lead young

people to use aggressive and other antagonistic strategies to achieve peer

status. Overall, it would appear that age does have some impact on the level of

cyberbullying activities encountered, although whether this can be directly

linked to biological changes or disruption to social networking is still debatable.

The study of Johnson and Birmingham (2012) is similar to this present

study as an evidence from school-based leaders who have efficiently dealt with

cyberbullying behaviours. The psychological harm inflicted by cyberbullying, just

like bullying, is reflected in low self-esteem, school failure, anger, anxiety,

depression, school avoidance, school violence.

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According to Beran (2015) it is even possible that the damage from

cyberbullying would be greater than bullying because there is no escape for the

victims: harmful material could be easily preserved as well a quickly and widely

spread. Further, many people who would not harass others face-to-face might

cyberbullying peers because they believe that they could hide or it would be

acceptable to engage is such behavior virtually.

Addressing cyberbullying should be a collective effort on the part of

school, families, students, and society. Because cyberbullying happen outside of

school boundaries, school might direct such issues back to parents, saying that

they have no legal information. However, cyberbullying can be rooted in school

or vice versa, even if the incidents appear to be initiated using school property.

This requires school to consider the development of comprehensive programs to

fight cyberbullying, including detailed and unified policies as well as effective

programs to educate students. (Taylor, 2012)