Perceptions of bullying‐like phenomena in South Korea: a qualitative approach from a lifespan perspective
| Published date | 10 October 2011 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/17596591111187738 |
| Pages | 210-221 |
| Date | 10 October 2011 |
| Author | Seungha Lee,Peter K. Smith,Claire P. Monks |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
Perceptions of bullying-like phenomena
in South Korea: a qualitative approach
from a lifespan perspective
Seungha Lee, Peter K. Smith and Claire P. Monks
Abstract
Purpose – This study aims to investigate perceptions of bullying-like behaviours in South Korea, from
young children to adults; why they happen and how people judge them.
Design/methodology/approach – Focus groups were conducted across different age ranges, from
preschool to workplace employees, in Seoul. A total of 113 participants were shown cartoons or
descriptions of negative behaviours and asked ‘‘why these happened’’, and ‘‘what do you think about
them?’’ Interview transcripts were analysed by grounded theory.
Findings – Similarities and differences across ages were found for two themes, origins and judgments
of behaviours. Situational and interpersonal factors were seen as important in causing the behaviours,
both in school and the workplace. Pupils aged 15-17 and mothers considered the behaviours less
acceptable than younger pupils; whereas, ten to 15-year-old pupils and workplace employees gave
more justification of the behaviours and were morelikely to attribute the situation to victim’sresponsibility.
Originality/value – This is the first study investigating perceptions of bullying-like behaviour from a
life-span perspective and also provides findings on the particular nature of Korean bullying or wang-ta.
Keywords Bullying, Aggression, Age differences, Wang-ta,South Korea,Attitudes
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Bullying is widely defined as a ‘‘systematic abuse of power’’ (Smith and Sharp, 1994; Rigby,
2002) in which aggressive behaviour is done repeatedly to another person who is usually not
available to defend themselves effectively (Olweus, 1999). These behaviours can be
physical, verbal or relational; and direct or (such as hitting, insulting, face to face social
excluding) or indirect (such as damaging someone’s property, indirect social exclusion or
spreading nasty rumors) (Bjo
¨rkqvist et al., 1992).
There are age-related changes about the concept of bullying in western societies. Younger
children have a broader concept of bullying than older children; generally, the imbalance of
power criterion, or intentions of the aggressive behaviours are less likely be used among
younger children than older children. Monks and Smith (2006) asked children aged four to six
years, eight years, 14 years and adults about whether a certain type of aggression was
bullying or not. They found that most four to six and eight-year-olds considered a fight
between two children (of equal strength) as bullying whereas few 14-year-olds or adults did
so. Also, an accidentally harmful act (breaking a ruler) was considered as bullying by many
four to six-year-olds (but not by older children or adults). The different perceptions about
bullying between younger and older children may reflect differing levels of cognitive
development, or alternatively, real differences in behaviours prevalent at certain ages
(Younger et al., 1985; Monks and Smith, 2006).
People generally have negative attitudes to bullying and are supportive of victims: the
majority of children disapprove of bullies and sympathize with victims. Nevertheless, there is
PAGE 210
j
JOURNALOF AGGRESSION,CONFLICTAND PEACERESEARCH
j
VOL.3 NO. 4 2011, pp.210-221, QEmerald Group Publishing Limit ed, ISSN 1759-6599 DOI 10.1108/17596591111187738
Seungha Lee is based in
the Department of
Psychology, Goldsmiths
College, University of
London, London, UK.
Peter K. Smith is a Professor
in the Department of
Psychology, Goldsmiths
College, University of
London, London, UK.
Claire P. Monks is a Senior
Lecturer in the Department
of Psychology and
Counselling, University of
Greenwich, London, UK.
This study was in part
supported by a PMI2 Connect
Research Co-operation award:
‘‘Preventing school bullying:
cross-national perspectives on
intervention between the UK
and South Korea’’ from the
British Council, which is
gratefully acknowledged. The
authors would like to thank Taein
Kim for help with coding
reliabilities.
To continue reading
Request your trial