Abstract

In a sample of 115 middle school pupils (63 boys and 52 boys) the study aimed at detecting children's perception of bullying behavior in terms of degree of seriousness and how it varies according to gender and behavioural status of children. Results showed that the least serious type of bullyng were: "saying nasty names on other children" and "no one would talk to me", whereas the most serious behaviour were: "physical aggression" and "threatening". Gender differences play a significant role in the perception of two patterns of behaviour: "Threatening" and "social esclusion". In comparison with other children, bullies usually overestimated a wide variety of behaviors, whereas victims presented the opposite pattern, generally underestimating the problem.