The Need

“See the light in others, and treat them as if that is all you see.”
Dr. Wayne Dyer

The problem we aim to solve is the occurrence of relational aggression (RA), also known as social bullying or relational bullying. This type of bullying is one of the most common and prevalent among girls. It involves efforts to hurt someone’s reputation or relationships, as described in the federal government website: stopbullying.gov.

GirlKind Project, promoting kindness on TV

Girls start exhibiting relational aggressive behaviors early in elementary school. RA intensifies as girls mature and navigate into middle/high school and even into adulthood, having detrimental and long-lasting effects.

“RA behaviors prevent girls from aligning with one another during an important time in their psychosocial development and instead turns them into adversaries. This way of interacting can deprive girls of a valuable support system: her peers.”

(Dellasega, 2003, P. 9)

“Research indicates that persistent bullying can lead to or worsen feelings of isolation, rejection, exclusion, and despair, as well as depression and anxiety, which can contribute to suicidal behavior” (stopbullying.gov). In addition, RA is connected to poor academic performance, tardiness, truancy, deterioration of relationships and low self-esteem.

Examples of RA Behaviors:

Spreading rumors

Excluding and isolating someone on purpose

Name calling

Labeling

Put downs

Creating and joining cliques

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

- Dr. Martin Luther King

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