Nearly 550 children in third through sixth grades in a school district near Dayton were surveyed for the study, pinpointing the type of aggression they suffer, how often it occurs and how they cope. The students were also asked about supportive behavior from their peers. The quieter reactions may go unnoticed by teachers and parents, Roecker warns. Verbal aggression is considered by children to be hurtful. They are also less likely to tattle.
Names can hurt quite a bit.
If someone calls you a dummy, you have to repeat that in order to tell someone about it. You can feel that pain again. Boys and girls suffer through similar amounts of verbal aggression, the study found, contradicting the stereotype of roughhouse boys and spiteful girls. The most popular methods for coping with physical aggression were trying to do something to stop it, trying extra hard to keep it from happening again and telling a friend or family member what happened. Advising older children to let the teacher know if they're being physically bullied at school may be a hollow recommendation, Roecker says.