Promoting Positive Youth Relations
Donation protected
Most bullying is socially motivated. Young people denigrate others to achieve social dominance. If denigrating others is perceived to be a good way to be considered "cool" by your peers, no rules from adults will change this behavior.
Bullying behavior occurs outside of adult view and most often is not reported.
The "just say no" approach to youth risk behavior has never been effective. Bullying is ethologically based behavior. "No Bullying Zones" signs are as effective as if a rancher put a "no head butting" sign on the fence of a pasture containing several rams.
To increase youth positive relations and reduce bullying requires addressing the perceived norms of the school or youth organization. To do so we must focus on the positive norms held by the majority of youth.
The majority of youth admire those who are respectful to all and who step in to support someone who has been treated badly or left out. They also admire those who own it and fix it if they have made a mistake and hurt someone. The majority of youth do not admire those who are hurtful or their supporters.
As "guides by the side" adults can assist young people in recognizing these positive norms and increasing their positive relationship skills.
In 2007, my book on cyber bullying was published. At the time I wrote this book, I had serious concerns about the I information and guidance being provided about bullying prevention. The insight on those who engage in bullying did not match those who we're engaging in cyber bullying. The current guidance then and now, was focused on creating rules against bullying, supervising, telling students to report, and punishing the wrongdoer - an approach that simply was not going to work in the digital age.
Since this time, I have dedicated myself to figuring out why the current approach was not effective and - more importantly - what more positive and powerful approaches could be used. I have delved deeply into the research and have identified key insight that can be used to implement better approaches.
This effort has been entirely self-funded through personal loans and the sale of personal property. I am passionate about the role I want to play in making life better for young people.
More information on my research insight and directions can be found on my . Insight is also found on my Facebook page.
Essentially, the objectives of my powerfully positive approach are:
• Help young people gain self-confidence and resilience to reduce the likelihood they will be treated badly and can respond effectively if this does occur in a way that will limit the resulting harms.
• Help young people who are on a path to leadership to become positive leaders who promote acceptance and positive intervention, rather than engaging in hurtful behavior to achieve dominance.
• Increase the positive interventions by witnesses of hurtful situations, including reaching out to be kind, saying stop, and reporting serious concerns.
• Increase the effectiveness of adults in intervening in ways that foster resilience, restoration, and positive peer interventions.
• Increase the capacity of adults, including educators, youth development professionals, and parents/guardians, in providing essential support to those young people who are more frequently treated badly, including those who are also aggressive.
At this time, my research and some development has been completed. To "reach the finish line" I need additional resources. The work that needs to be done that requires funds for external services includes:
• Conduct a national survey of youth age 11 - 15 to identify their norms and the level of effective skills. The survey will also ask questions about school climate and the effectiveness of adult interventions. I have piloted this survey and the results are compelling.
• Create 12 short instructional videos for the Be a FRIEND! Program I have created. (Preview this on my site.)
• Obtain graphics services to upgrade the graphics of there Be a FRIEND! materials and create posters.
The additional work I will accomplish is to complete the professional development resources for school staff and staff of after school programs.
In gratitude for the contributions made, anyone who contributes $25 will receive a copy of my book Powerful Positive Strategies to Support Your Bullied Child.
Additionally, any amount contributed can be directed by you as a pre-payment credit for the purchase of my materials by either a youth organizations or school that you would like to support.
A contribution of $100 that anyone intends to use for or designate to a school or youth organization will lead to a 30% discount off the purchase price.
Bullying behavior occurs outside of adult view and most often is not reported.
The "just say no" approach to youth risk behavior has never been effective. Bullying is ethologically based behavior. "No Bullying Zones" signs are as effective as if a rancher put a "no head butting" sign on the fence of a pasture containing several rams.
To increase youth positive relations and reduce bullying requires addressing the perceived norms of the school or youth organization. To do so we must focus on the positive norms held by the majority of youth.
The majority of youth admire those who are respectful to all and who step in to support someone who has been treated badly or left out. They also admire those who own it and fix it if they have made a mistake and hurt someone. The majority of youth do not admire those who are hurtful or their supporters.
As "guides by the side" adults can assist young people in recognizing these positive norms and increasing their positive relationship skills.
In 2007, my book on cyber bullying was published. At the time I wrote this book, I had serious concerns about the I information and guidance being provided about bullying prevention. The insight on those who engage in bullying did not match those who we're engaging in cyber bullying. The current guidance then and now, was focused on creating rules against bullying, supervising, telling students to report, and punishing the wrongdoer - an approach that simply was not going to work in the digital age.
Since this time, I have dedicated myself to figuring out why the current approach was not effective and - more importantly - what more positive and powerful approaches could be used. I have delved deeply into the research and have identified key insight that can be used to implement better approaches.
This effort has been entirely self-funded through personal loans and the sale of personal property. I am passionate about the role I want to play in making life better for young people.
More information on my research insight and directions can be found on my . Insight is also found on my Facebook page.
Essentially, the objectives of my powerfully positive approach are:
• Help young people gain self-confidence and resilience to reduce the likelihood they will be treated badly and can respond effectively if this does occur in a way that will limit the resulting harms.
• Help young people who are on a path to leadership to become positive leaders who promote acceptance and positive intervention, rather than engaging in hurtful behavior to achieve dominance.
• Increase the positive interventions by witnesses of hurtful situations, including reaching out to be kind, saying stop, and reporting serious concerns.
• Increase the effectiveness of adults in intervening in ways that foster resilience, restoration, and positive peer interventions.
• Increase the capacity of adults, including educators, youth development professionals, and parents/guardians, in providing essential support to those young people who are more frequently treated badly, including those who are also aggressive.
At this time, my research and some development has been completed. To "reach the finish line" I need additional resources. The work that needs to be done that requires funds for external services includes:
• Conduct a national survey of youth age 11 - 15 to identify their norms and the level of effective skills. The survey will also ask questions about school climate and the effectiveness of adult interventions. I have piloted this survey and the results are compelling.
• Create 12 short instructional videos for the Be a FRIEND! Program I have created. (Preview this on my site.)
• Obtain graphics services to upgrade the graphics of there Be a FRIEND! materials and create posters.
The additional work I will accomplish is to complete the professional development resources for school staff and staff of after school programs.
In gratitude for the contributions made, anyone who contributes $25 will receive a copy of my book Powerful Positive Strategies to Support Your Bullied Child.
Additionally, any amount contributed can be directed by you as a pre-payment credit for the purchase of my materials by either a youth organizations or school that you would like to support.
A contribution of $100 that anyone intends to use for or designate to a school or youth organization will lead to a 30% discount off the purchase price.
Organizer
Nancy Willard
Organizer
Eugene, OR
