Newswise — Just because schools have let out for the summer doesn't mean children escape being bullied. According to Sally Black, Ph.D., assistant professor of interdisciplinary health services at Saint Joseph's University, "Children tend to take bullying to summer camps, which are really just extensions of the classroom."
Aggressive behavior among school children doesn't just happen in face-to-face situations. In fact, Dr. Black sees a growing trend in cyber bullying, which includes cruel or harassing comments through instant messaging, text messages, or blogging. As technology becomes more accessible and pervasive, Dr. Black foresees online bullying becoming an even bigger problem.
"Cyber bullying allows greater severity and breadth of aggression because the bully's identity is protected and the victim is more easily depersonalized by the lack of face-to-face interaction. Because children are still learning social behavior, parents need to monitor online activity and correct bullying behaviors when they arise," she advised.
One topic that Dr. Black has passionately and consistently spoken about is the effect of violent video games on children. She strongly contends that such games lead to aggression and bullying because they simulate a fantasy world where children practice aggressive behavior without real-world consequences.
During the week of June 25, the American Medical Association (AMA) announced that certain games may be classified as addictive. The new report would affect the marketing and classification of massive multiplayer, online, role-playing games (MMORPGs), such as World of Warcraft, RuneScape and Everquest.
"Classifying MMORPGs as addictive will lead to an increased awareness of the problem, promote treatment for kids who suffer from a gaming addiction disorder, and tighten restrictions on age appropriate marketing," she said.
Dr. Black believes this new classification is a step in the right direction. Armed with information on the health risks of gaming, parents can confidently prohibit their children from playing such games. Instead, they can encourage their children to participate more actively in the "real world," where killing sprees with axes, guns, or swords are certainly not the norm.
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