The Law Enforcement Executives Guide to Understanding
Bullying Behavior in Schools and in the Workplace
By:
Rande W. Matteson, Ph.D.
Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, FL
Carol G. Walker, Ph.D.
Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, FL
Autobiographical Sketches
Rande W. Matteson, Ph.D.
Dr. Matteson is the Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at Saint Leo University. He completed a long-term career in the field of law enforcement this experience and his academic research provides more information regarding the various reasons that abusive relationships are found in society. He frequently publishes on the topic of bullying behavior and completed a pioneer published research study on bullying and a recent book on school bullying and its relationship to abuse and violence. Education and advocacy provide some of the best tools to help society overcome this potentially destructive form of behavior.
Carol G. Walker, Ph.D.
Dr. Walker is the Dean of the School of Education and Social Sciences at Saint Leo University. Her experience as an elementary classroom teacher and high school resource person has given her the knowledge and background for this article on a very personal level. As a concerned university professor, the research reflects a growing awareness of the need to incorporate a broadened perspective of education to broaden knowledge with a focus on prevention of violence.
The Law Enforcement Executives Guide to Understanding
Bullying Behavior in Schools and in the Workplace
Abstract
Bullying behavior is a phenomenon in the workplace and in schools is just beginning to be fully recognized by researchers. Public awareness of the short and long term physical and emotional injuries as a result of bullying in both the school and the workplace is one of a growing concern to law enforcement executives. In the research on workplace and school bullying incidents, we find many similarities among adults and children who bully others to gain an advantage. The potential and real dangers of bullying found in society today, create negative stress for students, teachers, families and law enforcement. Visionary law enforcement leaders are in a position to seek out creative solutions as means of prevention through knowledge and education. The result of such vigilance is a more confident workforce that will recognize the bully in the family, the school and in the workplace and will take proactive steps to prevent and respond to incidents of bullying behavior using all available resources.
