During age eleven to thirteen years, children start to understand how other people behave. They observe, learn, and they make assumptions about what other people think and feel. They are particularly attuned to what their peers think about them. Permanent psychological damage can result from children being mean to each other, particularly in middle school. When children are made to be outside the peer groups, and when other children repeatedly made fun of them, permanent damage may result because these children will not trust other people when they grow up. As adults, they will consider that other people may be nice in their outward behavior but are thinking negative things about them.Students can be really mean at some middle schools, and sometimes the meanness goes well above and beyond the call of duty. Years ago, two eighth grade girls in the same middle school attempted suicide. When they got back to school, word got around. Some of the students came up to them and said, "Why don't you just try to kill yourself right here in front of the class?" They would do this over and over again. One girl went on to repeat her suicide attempt. The other girl made the taunters feel guilty, but went on to abuse drugs and drop out of high school.
Pre-teenagers and teenagers look for the respect of their peers. Being considered "popular" is one way of getting respect from peers. Some children try to gain popularity by interfering with their peers respect of others, and they make fun of other children. The thought is that if a peer is less respected, then logically, the one who is doing the damage can be more respected. Fortunately, that thought does not last forever, or otherwise, we would have a terrible world as adults.
Copyright 2010, Henry Doenlen, M.D. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment