Child Psychology Commons^™

Childhood Sexual Abuse In Boys Under The Age Of 18: Nonverbal Disclosure Patterns Through Behavior, Matthew J. Luz

The Graduate Review

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) include being exposed to or victimized by physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; if left untreated, traumas may disrupt normative biopsychosocial development. Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a phenomenon investigated by many researchers, however, the scientific community suspects CSA in boys is underreported. Since there are significant gender differences in CSA verbal disclosures, examining nonverbal disclosures in boys through overt, sexualized behaviors may help clinicians confirm suspected cases of CSA. Since most research investigates verbal disclosures of sexual abuse, this study will investigate nonverbal disclosure in boys between the ages of 6 through 10 using naturalistic observations …

Anxiety In Elementary Classrooms, Stephanie Kane

Honors Program Theses and Projects

As the number of students with anxiety increases, elementary school professionals are becoming more aware of the signs, behaviors, and negative outcomes that are shown in a young student with anxiety. This study examined the impact that anxiety has on elementary students’ social and academic growth in the classroom. Interviews were conducted with seven elementary school teachers, two school counselors, and one school nurse from a variety of districts in Eastern Massachusetts. The purpose of the study was to identify the different ways that young students express their anxieties and the effect that this has on their schooling. Several different …

Utilizing Animal Metaphors In Child Psychotherapy: An Integrative Approach For Therapists, Tricia J. Gordon

The Graduate Review

Despite a plethora of therapeutic approaches utilized when working with children, there is still a need for empirically based, child-centered, developmentally appropriate methodologies. This research aims to provide a greater understanding of the use of action-based metaphors when working with clients in early to middle childhood, while integrating various treatment modalities. While there are a countless number of metaphorical possibilities, there is a lack of research with a focus on the specific use of animal metaphors in child therapy. This child-friendly integrative approach proposes that therapists adjust their current working model to see the client as a whole, while integrating …

Cyberbullying Among 11,700 Elementary School Students, 2010-2012, Elizabeth Englander

MARC Research Reports

Study: 11,700+ Third-, Fourth- and Fifth-Graders, sampled in New England from a variety of schools (representing a variety of socioeconomic classes), between January 2010 and September, 2012. Study presented on November 6, 2012 at the International Bullying Prevention Association Annual Conference, Kansas City, MO.

Low Risk Associated With Most Teenage Sexting: A Study Of 617 18-Year-Olds, Elizabeth Englander

MARC Research Reports

This report describes research conducted in 2011 and 2012 on 617 subjects, 30% of whom reported sexting. The report details the frequency of sexting behaviors as well as the relationship between coerced and non-coerced sexting, sexting and gender differences, characteristics of sexters, and data on risk of discovery and social conflict following engaging in sexting. The study revealed that most risk associated with sexting is experienced by youth who are coerced into sexting; they are more impacted emotionally by the experience, and are more likely to have a prior victimization. Risk of discovery and social conflict was highest for coerced …

Digital Self-Harm: Frequency, Type, Motivations, And Outcomes, Elizabeth Englander

MARC Research Reports

This report describes research conducted in 2011 and 2012 on 617 subjects, 10% of whom reported self-cyberbullying. The report details the frequency of self-cyberbullying in boys versus girls (17% versus 8%) and the frequency of the incidents in questions. The data also reveals some of the characteristics of self‐cyberbullies, their motivations for digital self-harm and the relative success of the tactic.

Spinning Our Wheels: Improving Our Ability To Respond To Bullying And Cyberbullying, Elizabeth Englander

MARC Publications

Bullying is physical and or psychological abuse perpetuated by one powerful child upon another, with the intention to harm or dominate. Bullying and aggression in schools has reached epidemic proportions. Abusive bullying behaviors begin in elementary school, peak during middle school, and begin to subside in high school. Bullying behaviors are associated with catastrophic violence. Cyberbullying has emerged as one result of the increasingly online social life in which modern teens and children engage. Mediation may be inappropriate. The only safety mechanism that children will ultimately retain is the one between their ears.

Practical Ways To Reduce Online & In-School Bullying, Elizabeth Englander

MARC Publications

The Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC) is an academic Center at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. By running a training program for graduate and undergraduate students in higher education, MARC offers free research, programs and services to K-12 schools in Massachusetts. Everyone benefits: future educators receive unique field training, and K-12 schools receive high-quality, no-cost programs and services. One important characteristic of MARC’s mission is to transmute significant research findings into concrete, useable information for K-12 teachers in the field. The sheer amount of information available today about bullying and cyberbullying can make any educator’s head spin. But despite the …

Marc Handful O' Statistics, Elizabeth K. Englander

MARC Research Reports

These statistics were gleaned from two 2010-­‐2011 studies through the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

• In-depth survey of 617 college freshman
• Survey of 21,000 children in grades 3-12 in a variety of communities across Massachusetts.

Research Findings: Marc 2011 Survey Grades 3-12, Elizabeth K. Englander

MARC Research Reports

Self-report survey of 20,766 children in grades 3-12 in Massachusetts

Marc Freshman Study 2011: Bullying, Cyberbullying, Risk Factors And Reporting, Elizabeth K. Englander

MARC Research Reports

The Sample:

• 617 College freshman, studied over a 6 month period in 2010-­‐2011
• Predominately white
• Predominately 18–19 years old
• Parents tend to be high working class, low middle class, or middle class

Studied for: rates of behavior; risk factors & their relationship to bullying and cyberbullying; and many other social, family, and school factors

Psychotherapeutic Techniques And Play Therapy With Children Who Experienced Trauma: A Review Of The Literature, Julia Lamotte

Undergraduate Review

This research examined the use of Play Therapy with children who have experienced emotional, physical or psychological trauma. Past research supports other therapeutic modalities as being effective with children after a traumatic experience, though the validity of play therapy lacks comprehensive quantitative and qualitative support. Based on the concept that play is the natural language of children, this form of treatment is developmentally appropriate, specifically with children under the age of twelve. For the purposes of this research, trauma was categorized in to Type 1 (single occurrences) and Type 2 (recurring trauma). A review of the literature found that although …

Just Turn The Darn Thing Off: Understanding Cyberbullying, Elizabeth Englander, Amy Muldowney

Bridgewater Review

Cyberbullying is the newest form of an abusive pattern of behavior that has always existed among young people, and which has recently been increasing alarmingly in both frequency and severity. Efforts to identify and prevent cyberbullying have been studied and developed by the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC) and include working with parents, schools, and children.

Editorial For The Special Issue On Cyberbullying, Elizabeth Englander

MARC Publications

No abstract provided.

Cyberbullying Victimization And Behaviors Among Girls: Applying Research Findings In The Field, Patricia A. Snell, Elizabeth Englander

MARC Publications

Abstract: Problem statement: Prior research on cyberbullying has been conducted; however specific research on gender differences has yet to be examined. The current study focuses on gender trends, specifically females, in cyberbullying victimization and behaviors. Approach: A survey was given to undergraduate students at Bridgewater State College in an effort to see what gender trends exist in cyberbullying behaviors. A pilot program focused on girls and cyberbullying is also examined in this article. Results: Preliminary results from both the survey and the pilot study have shown gender differences in regards to cyberbullying victimization and behaviors. Results suggest that females are …

On The Front Lines: Educating Teachers About Bullying And Prevention Methods, Aviva Twersky Glasner

MARC Publications

Problem statement: Bullying is a serious problem in American schools and is characterized by aggressive behavior distinguished by unequal power and the intention to cause physical, social, or emotional harm to others Bullying is evolving from the classic image of a big schoolyard bully picking on smaller kids to a more technologically, sophisticated model of kids using cyber technology to electronically tease, bully and harass their peers with texting, voicemails, emails and posts on public websites, like Facebook, that are popular with young students. While parents are and should be encouraged and trained to recognize understand the insidious nature of …

Girls And Cyberbullying, Elizabeth Englander, P. Snell

MARC Publications

No abstract provided.

Cyberbullying & Bullying In Massachusetts: Frequency & Motivations, Elizabeth Englander

MARC Publications

This brief reports on the major findings of the studies conducted in the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center during the years 2006 to 2008. Detailed analyses are omitted but general findings are displayed and explained. The data deals primarily with cyberbullying, but some data related to bullying behaviors is reported. The findings are separated by study. Two studies are reported upon here: a survey of 334 college freshman and a survey of 178 K-12 educators from public schools across the Commonwealth. A third study, of 75 pediatricians in Massachusetts, will be discussed under separate cover. The findings from the two studies …

Cyberbullying And Information Exposure: User-Generated Content In Post-Secondary Education, Elizabeth K. Englander

MARC Publications

The term “Cyberimmersion” refers to the central role that the Internet and electronic communications now play in the lives of individuals born after 1980 in the First World. Cyberimmersion has transformed everything about bullying and harassment between youth in the First World. It has also transformed the information landscape, although confusion about the scope and nature of this transformation is common. User-generated content has opened the door to a vast “spillage” of information, both damaging and promising. Younger users evidence a high comfort level with technology but many remain naïve in the areas of electronic security, privacy, and information exposure. …

Just Turn The Darn Thing Off: Understanding Cyberbullying., Elizabeth K. Englander, Amy M. Muldowney

MARC Publications

The central role that the Internet now plays in the life of children has transformed everything about bullying between youth in the First World. Three features characterize cyberbullying: it evolves rapidly, adults differ fundamentally from children in their use of the Internet, and children are comfortable with technology but ignorant about the psychological impact of their online behaviors and the dangers to which they expose themselves and their families. This presentation will review the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center’s innovative and aggressive approach to researching and addressing both bullying and cyberbullying.

When Should You Hesitate To Mediate?, Elizabeth K. Englander

MARC Publications

No abstract provided.

Presidential Fellow: Progress At Marc: Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center At Bridgewater State College, Elizabeth Englander

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.