The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences of empathy, prosocial moral reasoning, and the recognition of group norms, according to the role of bystanders in bullying situations among Korean youths. Participants were 279 eighth grade ...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences of empathy, prosocial moral reasoning, and the recognition of group norms, according to the role of bystanders in bullying situations among Korean youths. Participants were 279 eighth grade adolescents (mean age 14.6 yrs) from two middle schools situated in Seoul. The study was designed to investigate the following issues according to sex and the role of participants in a bullying situation: (1) differences of empathy, (2) prosocial moral reasoning, and (3) recognition of group norms. The survey consisted of questionnaires with the following subgroups: Empathy, Prosocial Moral Reasoning and Group Norms. Statistical methods adopted for data analysis were frequency, percentile, mean, standard deviation, χ2-test, t-test, and one-way ANOVA. Analyses were conducted using the SPSS software package, version 19.
Major findings were as follows:
Approximately 80% of the participants reported that they have witnessed a bullying situation. These results suggest that a significant number of students have been bystanders of a bullying situation. Reports indicate that a higher proportion of adolescent boys have witnessed or experienced physical aggression, whereas a higher proportion of adolescent girls witnessed or experienced relational aggression. Compared to adolescent girls, adolescent boys reported displaying higher tendencies of helping a peer (victim) in a bullying situation. Although the Outsider role was most frequently chosen by both boys and girls, selection rates for the role of the Defender was higher for adolescent boys than adolescent girls.
There were statistically significant differences in the four measures of Empathy according to sex and the role of participants in a bullying situation.
First, differences in empathy according to sex were found in the category of Cognitive Empathy under the subcategory of Fantasy; girls showed higher tendencies of projecting themselves in the situation of the fictional character. Second, for Affective Empathy under the subcategory of Personal Distress, adolescent girls reported stronger experiences of negative arousal (such as anxiety or discomfort) in response to others’ sufferings.
Differences in empathy according to the role of bystanders were found in the subcategories of Perspective Taking and Emphatic Concern. First, under the category of Cognitive Empathy, in the representative subscale Perspective Taking, high scores of comprehension and acceptance were exhibited in the order of Defenders, Outsiders, and Reinforcers. Second, under the category of Affective Empathy, in the representative subscale Emphatic Concern, Defenders displayed the highest tendency to exhibit feelings of concern and compassion for another individual’s misfortune or negative circumstance, while there were no differences among the Outsiders and Reinforcers.
There were statistically significant differences of Prosocial Moral Judgment according to sex and the role of participants in a bullying situation.
In the Prosocial Moral Conflict Task, the selection of the response, which indicated help must be given to a victim in a bullying situation, was higher for boys than girls. In the roles of bystanders, Defenders exhibited the highest responses to help the victims, while no significant differences were found among the Outsiders and Reinforcers groups.
In the Prosocial Moral Reasoning category, boys displayed the highest proportion of selection for the “consideration of the cause” reasoning response, which indicated help must be given to a bullied victim who is without fault. On the other hand, girls explained their own prosocial behavior with reference to “pragmatic consideration”. In application of this reasoning, girls displayed the highest proportion of selection for the response that indicated help should be given if there is practical reason to provide help.
In the roles of bystanders, Reinforcers and Outsiders most frequently exhibited the application of the “consideration of the cause” reasoning. For the Defenders, the proportion of selection was highest in the “stereotyped images of majority behavior” reasoning.
There were statistically significant differences of Group Norms according to sex and the role of participants in a bullying situation.
In the recognition of group norms in a bullying situation, adolescent girls expected negative responses to anti-bullying behavior (providing comfort or help to the victim) from their class peers. In the roles of bystanders, compared to Outsiders and Defenders, Reinforcers revealed higher tendencies to expect positive responses for pro-bullying behavior from their peers. In regards to the recognition of group norms in a bullying situation, no significant differences were found between the Outsiders and Reinforcers groups.
The present study demonstrated differences among Korean adolescents in regards to empathy, prosocial moral reasoning, and the recognition of group norms, according to bystanders’ roles in bullying situations. The findings of this study can be applied to anti-bullying education and future intervention programs for middle school students.