Bullying Behaviors, Peer Harassment, and Weapons Carrying

The approach for schools supported by this project employs a comprehensive print and electronic social norms marketing campaign to reduce harmful misperceptions about student bullying behaviors. Program components include (1) a new inexpensive and efficient web-based strategy for determining local norms and perceptions and (2) a print media campaign to communicate the local norms.

Research Results

• Perkins, Jessica M., H. Wesley Perkins, and David W. Craig. 2020. “Norms and Attitudes About Being an Active Bystander: Support for Telling Adults About Seeing Knives or Guns at School Among Greater London Youth,” Journal of Youth and Adolescence, Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 849–868. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-019-01127-7.

• Perkins, Jessica M., H. Wesley Perkins, and David W. Craig. 2019. "A Code of Silence? Misperceptions Regarding Peer Support for Telling Authorities about Weapons at School Among Middle and High School Students in the United States." Youth and Society, Vol. 51, No. 6, pp. 814-839 https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X17714808.

• Perkins, H. Wesley, Jessica M. Perkins, and David W. Craig. 2014. "No Safe Haven: Locations of Harassment and Bullying Victimization in Middle Schools." Journal of School Health, Vol. 84, No. 12, pp. 810-818.  https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12208.

• Jessica Perkins, H. Wesley Perkins, and David W. Craig. 2013. "Reporting of weapon carrying at school among US youth: Personal attitudes and perceptions of peers' attitudes," presentation at the APHA 141st Annual Meeting and Expo, Boston, MA.  (website, flyer, AWARD).

• Perkins, H. Wesley, David W. Craig, and Jessica M. Perkins. 2011. "Using Social Norms to Reduce Bullying: A Research Intervention in Five Middle Schools." Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 14(5):703-722. (abstract, free full text)

• "Where Does Bullying Take Place among Adolescents When They are at School?" presented by H. Wesley Perkins, Jessica Perkins, and David Craig at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, November 11, 2009. (abstract, handouts)

• "Misperceptions of Bullying Norms as a Risk Factor Associated with Violence among Middle School Students," presented by H. Wesley Perkins, David Craig and Jessica Perkins at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, November 10, 2009. (abstract, handouts)

• "Assessing Bullying In New Jersey Secondary Schools: Applying The Social Norms Model To Adolescent Violence" breakout session presented by David W. Craig and H. Wesley Perkins at the 2008 National Conference on the Social Norms Approach, Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, CA, July 21, 2008. (abstract, slides)

• "Social Norms Research on School Violence in England: Another Look at Misperceived Peer Norms as the Biggest Bully of All" breakout session presented by H. Wesley Perkins at the 2008 National Conference on the Social Norms Approach, Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, CA, July 21, 2008. (abstract, slides).

• "Assessing Bullying in Secondary Schools with a New Online Survey: Applying the Social Norms Model to Adolescent Violence," workshop presented by H. Wesley Perkins and David W. Craig at The National Conference on the Social Norms Model, Denver, CO, July 28, 2006. (program handout, slides)

In the News

• The New York Times, "The Destructive Influence of Imaginary Peers," by Tina Rosenberg, March 27, 2013. (HWS Link)

• Children with Challenging Behavior, "Bullying is Forever," March 15, 2013.

• Huffington Post, "Exaggerating Bullying Could Increase Bullying," Larry Magid, Technology journalist, October 26, 2011.

• Huffington Post, "Shooters, Like Bullies, Can Misperceive Social Norms," by Larry Magid, technical journalist, January 9, 2011.

• Messenger Post, "Bullying -- and concern -- escalate at Canandaigua Academy middle school," by Michele E. Cutri-Bynoe, staff writer, Canandaigua, NY, June 20, 2010.

• The Star, "Norman Hemminger, 76: 'Easygoing, simple guy who loved life'," Toronto, Ont, Canada, December 27, 2009.

• The Independent Florida Alligator, "Study shows that bullies act on assumptions," Gainesville, FL, November 23, 2009.

• Poughkeepsie Journal, "Many kids feel threatened in the classroom," Poughkeepsie, NY, November 22, 2009.

• USNews.com, "Many kids feel threatened in the classroom," November 13, 2009.

• WGEM.com (Quincy, IL - Hannibal, Mo - Keokuk, IA), "Many kids feel threatened in the classroom," by Randy Dotinga, November 13, 2009.

• CBS Radio "World News Roundup" reported on "Where Does Bullying Take Place among Adolescents When They are at School?" presented at the 2009 American Public Health Assocation National Conference, November 11, 2009. (handout)
  
  
• The Finger Lakes Times "HWS survey shows bullying's not that prevalent," David Taube, Finger Lakes Times Staff , November 8, 2009
  
  
• The Finger Lakes Times "Geneva Middle School is a Safer Place, Survey Finds," Finger Lakes Times Staff , November 2, 2009
  
  
• The Star-Ledger "Kids aren't as harassed as they think," Peggy O'Crowley, Star-Ledger Staff , July 22, 2008
  
  
• Christian Science Monitor "Social Norms strategy aims to tame bullying," by Stacey A. Teicher, August 17, 2006.

Poster Catalog

• Click here to see a set of example posters created for middle school and junior high schools conducting a social norms bullying intervention.
  

Back to home page

page updated: 1/30/2020