Saturday, October 29, 2016

Italian Perception of the Bullying Phenomenon

Title:  An Analysis of Italian Newspaper Articles on the Bullying Phenomenon
Authors:  Michela Fraire, Laura Elvira Prino, Erica Sclavo
International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy
Key Points:  In Italian newspapers the mass-media utilizes bullying as a social and political tool.
As a motive for political direction, Italian newspapers are utilizing instances of bullying on school buses, cyber-bullying of a disabled child, and suicides related to bullying as a means to create political policies.  The demand of political directives and further research into the causes of bullying
related to aggression in Italian schools and criminality are discussed frequently in popular Italian newspapers.  Reading newspapers is still a part of daily life in Italy and a successful way to deliver
important and relevant information to the citizens of Italy.
Relevance:  This election year in America has focused greatly on bullying tactics, discrimination, hatred and fear.  Recently Italian politicians criticized the manner in which the United States political campaigns are able to use freedom of speech to bully and initiate hatred.  This article demonstrates that mass- media in Italy are using newspapers as a tool for change and focusing on possible solutions.  Bringing aggression into the light as a political and social issue sets an example of a desire to show equality to all citizens and prevents politicians from demonstrating the behaviors that are totally irrelevant to their political policies.  Children are watching the behavior of potential future leaders.  What kind of behaviors are the politicians modelling?  
URL: www.ijpsy.com/volumen8/num2/199/an-analysis-of-italian-newspaper-articles-EN


2 comments:

  1. Cool post Angie. It's always great to get a different perspective from other countries on America. We often do not see how some of our liberties can be viewed as a negative in other countries - such as the freedom of speech in the election can be seen as bullying. Which can also impact young viewers who are seeing this for the first time and accepting this as normal behavior. It is also a great reminder for us, as teachers, to remember students are viewing our behavior and actions. Being a great role model and having class - whether you're right or wrong goes a long way.

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  2. It’s refreshing to see a more objective view of America. I think I will take a cue from you, Angie, and start getting more of my news about the U.S. from other countries. I tried to pull up this article, but unfortunately the link was broken. I was most affected by the comparison between how the United States and Italian politicians use media. The way popular culture/ mass media operates has disturbed, confused, and offended me for the larger part of my life. It is refreshing to hear the way we use it (especially during election season ) may not be the gold standard around the world. I hope America can learn from more experienced countries a better way to behave.

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