AGGRESSION AT SCHOOL – FREQUENCY, SEVERITY, DETECTABILITY, AGGRESSORS’ MOTIVES

Abstract

The article presents results of a survey on peer aggression conducted in February 2020. The survey was carried out on a group of students and teachers from two primary schools and a secondary school. The most common aggression types turned out to be relational, verbal and psychological. Almost 50 per cent of students from the examined primary schools declared experiencing aggression sometimes or often and assessed it as upsetting or unbearable, the one-fifth of students admitted to being bullied. Girls perceived agression as more upsetting than boys did. Boys were more likely to fall victim to verbal and psychological aggression, girls – to relational aggression. Almost half of aggressors were not able to, or refused to explain reasons for their behaviour. More than a quarter of surveyed students acted aggressively in reaction to peers’ behaviour, trying to get even. Girls more frequently than boys tended to explain their aggression referring to their emotions, boys – were apt to justify aggression viewing it as jokes and justified humorousness. The main source of teachers’ knowledge of hostile behaviours among students was information provided directly by pupils and their parents. Teachers claimed not to notice any forms of material, physical and intimate aggression in their classes.