Robin M. Kowalski - Cyberbullying bullying in the digital age

PRAISE FOR PREVIOUS EDITION

It provides an excellent overview of bullying research in general, paying proper attention to research from around the world, and a good overview of the cyberbullying research, much of which the authors have been directly involved in conducting.

Research Papers in Education

Cyber Bullying provides the most current and essential information on the nature and prevalence of this epidemic, providing educators, parents, psychologists and policy-makers with critical prevention techniques and strategies for effectively addressing electronic bullying.

The Parent Report

Champions and critics of the [cyberbullying] laws agree that preventive education is a more powerful deterrent to cyberbullying than discipline. That notion is supported by Patricia Agatston, co-author of Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age and a counselor at Cobb County School Districts Prevention-Intervention Center in Georgia.

Washington Post

A must-read for anyone who has access to technology, and it is particularly relevant for any parent and educator who works with youth. Cyber Bullying provides eye-opening and helpful suggestions for helping parents and educators monitor and track students use of technology. Provides a very useful roadmap for educators and parents about this phenomenon.

PsycCritiques

A very helpful guide to the cyber world for parents, teachers, school counselors and parent educators.

NASAP Family Newsletter

Much needed addition Mandatory reading for parents of adolescents and school personnel, administrators and teachers Now is the time to read this book.

Metapsychology

A useful introduction to the growing problem of electronic harassment among children. The chapters providing advice to parents and educators are quite helpful.

American Journal of Psychology

This book provides an eloquent mix of research theories and findings, together with actual experiences, in the important area of cyberbullying. It is especially strong in well-developed and comprehensive chapters about what parents and educators can do, to reduce both the likelihood of cyberbullying happening, and its negative consequences.

Peter K. Smith, Goldsmiths, University of London

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Robin M. Kowalski, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology at Clemson University. She is the author or coauthor of several books including Complaining, Teasing, and Other Annoying Behaviors (2003), Social Anxiety (1997), Aversive Interpersonal Behaviors (1997), Behaving Badly (2001), and The Social Psychology of Emotional and Behavioral Problems (2000).
Susan P. Limber, Ph.D., is the Dan Olweus Professor at the Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life and Professor of Psychology at Clemson University. She has published numerous articles on the topic of bullying. In 2004 she received the American Psychological Associations Early Career Award for Psychology in the Public Interest.
Patricia W. Agatston, Ph.D., is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Prevention Specialist with the Cobb County School Districts Prevention/Intervention Center in Marietta, Georgia. She was a participant in the CDCs Expert Panel on Electronic Media and Youth Violence, and has presented nationally and internationally on cyberbullying.

This second edition first published 2012
2012 Robin M. Kowalski, Susan P. Limber, Patricia W. Agatston

Edition History: Blackwell Publishing Ltd (1e, 2008)

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kowalski, Robin M.
Cyberbullying : bullying in the digital age / Robin M. Kowalski, Susan P. Limber,
Patricia W. Agatston. 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4443-3480-7 (hardback) ISBN 978-1-4443-3481-4 (paperback)
1. Cyberbullying. 2. Bullying. I. Limber, Sue. II. Agatston, Patricia W. III. Title.
HV6773.K69 2012
302.343dc23

2011046026

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

FOREWORD

October 7, 2003, will always be the day that divides my life. Before that day, my son Ryan was alive. A sweet, gentle, and lanky 13-year-old fumbling his way through early adolescence and trying to establish his place in the often confusing and difficult social world of middle school. After that day, my son would be gone forever. A death by suicide. Some would call it bullycide or even cyberbullycide. I just call it a huge hole in my heart that will never heal.

Ryans young teen life included swimming, camping, skateboarding, biking, snowboarding, playing computer games and instant messaging. A typical array of healthy and normal teen activities or so it seemed. My son loved being online, staying connected with his friends after the school day and throughout the summer. But, during the summer of 2003, significantly more time was spent online, mainly instant messaging. I was concerned and felt compelled to remind him of our internet safety rules.

No IMing/chatting with strangers

No giving any personal information (name/address/phone) to strangers

No sending pictures to strangers

No secret passwords

Our last rule was a safety one. I told my two older children that they had to use the password I gave them for any accounts they signed up. I promised I would not read personal messages or spy on them but, God forbid you dont follow the first few rules and you just disappear one day. I will want instant access to all of your activities online. Never in a million years did I imagine this rule would someday end up becoming the key to unlocking the mystery of why my son took his own life.