Victim Case Study
Steve is a nine-year-old fourth grade school student.  He has been bullied by Ben for the past six months.  Steve has been teased about his physical appearance and his poor performance in gym class.  Occasionally, the bullying has become physical, such as being shoved or tripped in the school hallway.  Steve is a shy, self-conscious, and above-average student, but lately his grades have been slipping and he experiences anxiety about school. Steve has made frequent visits to the school nurse’s office with vague complaints of abdominal pain and headaches.  The school nurse notes that Steve has a negative self-concept, low self-esteem, and appears depressed.

Perpetrator Case Study
Ben is also a nine-year-old fourth grade school student and has been bullying his classmates.   Students, including Steve, report that Ben has been teasing them repeatedly, and shoves or pushes them in the hall.  Ben has also made frequent visits to the school nurse’s office with complaints similar to Steve’s generalized abdominal discomfort and headaches.  Upon further assessment, Ben confides that six months ago his parents have separated because of his father’s substance abuse.  The school nurse notes that, like Steve, Ben also has a negative self-concept, low self-esteem, and is mildly depressed.