The intellectual and personal history of the late Dan Olweus, a pioneer in the field of bullying management and prevention
School Bullying and the Legacy of Dan Olweus honours the work and legacy of Dan Olweus, a man generally seen as the "founding father" in the field of bullying management and prevention who initiated a shift in how society, educators, parents and professionals handle and keep track of the hostility that some children display.
This book explores how Olweus developed the first widely used questionnaire to survey the issue of bullying and victimisation (the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire, or OBQ), was instrumental in designing the first intervention campaign against school bullying in Norway in the 1980s and developed a multi-layered program of intervention, the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP), which is used in many countries around the world.
This book also provides constructive criticisms of his work, as well as ways to build on his legacy to reduce the impact of bullying on children and young people.
Delivering a summative view of his contribution to this research area, School Bullying and the Legacy of Dan Olweus discusses topics including:
- Olweus' research and practical achievements over three main stages: first in Sweden, then in Norway and then in later years
- Uses, strengths and limitations of the OBQ and OBPP, the views of Olweus on cyberbullying and his influence in Japan and China
- The definition of bullying, bias-based bullying and research challenges around the assessment of interventions
- The view of the school as a complex adaptive system and the contribution of civil society and of laws and policies against bullying
Providing an expansive intellectual and personal history of a leader in the field, School Bullying and the Legacy of Dan Olweus is an essential read for all parents, educators, administrators, researchers and professionals seeking to understand and prevent bullying in schools around the world.
A comprehensive exploration of the lasting impact of Dan Olweus, offering both historical insight and a forward-looking analysis of the field of bullying research and prevention
Bullying is a pervasive issue in schools worldwide, with serious implications for mental health and social wellbeing. For more than four decades, Dan Olweus, the developer of the pioneering Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP), has inspired scholars across the globe to tackle this vitally important human issue.
In School Bullying and the Legacy of Dan Olweus, a distinguished panel of experts reflects on Olweus's groundbreaking work and offers fresh insights into current issues such as cyberbullying and prejudice-based bullying. Blending biography, research history, and contemporary analysis, this unique book addresses different aspects of Olweus's contributions and the ongoing evolution of the field.
Each chapter reflects on how Olweus's work has shaped the field while also considering future directions for research and intervention. The book begins with an intimate look at his personal life and career, with a moving chapter written by his daughters. Subsequent sections explore the creation of the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire (OBQ), key challenges in defining and measuring bullying, the role of policies and the law in preventing bullying, and more. Two further chapters explore the influence and enduring impact of his work in Japan, and in mainland China.
School Bullying and the Legacy of Dan Olweus is essential reading for graduate students, researchers, educators, counselors, and policymakers working in fields such as developmental psychology, education, and children's rights. The idea of this book came up after the series of online meetings of experts in honor of Prof. Dan Olweus organized by European Antibullying Network in 2021.
