Intellectually Disabled Students as Victims and Perpetrators of Peer-to-peer Aggression the Educational Context

• Main Author: Plichta, Piotr
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna w Łodzi/University of Stavanger 2010
• Subjects: Norway; Iceland
• Online Access: http://depot.ceon.pl/handle/123456789/1248

In the article "Intellectually Disabled Students as Victims and Perpetrators of Peer-to-peer Aggression – the Educational Context" the issue concerning vulnerability of students with Intellectual disability and higher risk of becoming a victim of peer-to-peer aggression has been discussed. The intellectually disabled people become particularly easy targets of aggression. The risk that intellectually disabled children (including individuals with learning difficulties and communication disorders) become abused is two to three times higher than in the case of typically developing children. Therefore disabled people in general, and intellectually disabled ones in particular, are often referred to as ‘safe(easy) targets’, as the risk that the aggressor will be identified is significantly lower. What is more, and the victims or witnesses of aggression themselves are regarded as unreliable. Numerous data suggest that on a number of occasions intellectually disabled people also become perpetrators of aggression. This may be the result of becoming a victim of aggression in the past, including multiple forms of abuse, aggression, and bullying. The role of rejection and stigmatization as a risk factors regarding peer-to-peer aggression has been introduced. Practical remarks targeted at reducing risk of involvement in bullying are included. Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna w Łodzi (The Pedagogical Academy in Lodz) /University of Stavanger The project was completed with the support granted by Iceland, Lichtensteina and Norway by means of co-financing from the Economic Area Financial Mechanism as part of the Scholarship and Training Fund Piotr Plichta