Promoting 'Fair Play': Interventions for Children as Victims and Victimizers.

Because of escalating violence in our nation's schools and neighborhoods, childhood aggression is receiving intense public scrutiny. This article offers a systemic perspective for understanding the pervasive problem of bullying and victimization by clarifying adult attitudes toward childhood aggression; by reviewing the familial, educational, and societal systems which influence interpersonal relationships among children; by examining multicultural issues; by explaining victimization as a continuum of behavior; and by considering the issue of children as victims and victimizers through an emphasis on the relationship between the two. The issues covered here include changing views on childhood aggression; victimization from home to school; a definition of bully behavior; racial bullying; cross-gender bullying; the prevalence of bullying; bullies and victims; aspects of interpersonal bullying relationships; victimization as an aversive experience; shattering victims' assumptions of a just world; implications for intervention; and prevention. The latter topic leads into a description of the Fair Play program which was developed by analyzing the motives for bullying as well as the link between victims and victimizers. Since the Fair Play program uses sociodramatic techniques, some of the program's activities, which were designed to help children avoid violence, are provided. (Contains 110 references.) (RJM)