Abstract

The ultimate goal of this study was to determine the similarities and differences between the ways that athletes and non-athletes respond to various forms of bullying, whether it be experiencing or seeing physical, verbal, or cyberbullying. Individuals’ reasoning for choosing to not report the incident was also analyzed. Students at the College of Wooster were contacted via e-mail and asked to voluntarily participate in the study. As a broad overview, the individuals surveyed were more alike than different in their responses to bullying situations, regardless of gender or sport participation. Males and athletes were more likely to respond to both being bullied and seeing bullying by a form of direct, physical response, such as fighting the bully or recruiting help to fight the bully later. On the other hand, females and non-athletes were more likely to choose an indirect response, such as telling someone else or venting on social media. Overall, the responses show that regardless of the type of bullying, or whether the individual is being bullied or witnessing someone else get bullied, everyone is more likely to do something as opposed to nothing at all.

Advisor

Johnson, Michelle

Department

Communication Studies

Keywords

bullying, males, females, athletes, non-athletes, responses

Publication Date

2018

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2018 Trevor J. Bowden