Citation

Ireland JL. Aggressive Behav. 2002; 28(3): 184-197.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, International Society for Research on Aggression, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper addresses how social self-esteem relates to self-reported bullying behaviour among adult prisoners. It explores both level of self-esteem and participants' certainty of their self-esteem. A total of 502 adult prisoners (285 men and 217 women) completed a self-report behavioural checklist (Direct and Indirect Prisoner Behaviour Checklist) [Ireland JL. 1999. Aggres Behav 25:162-178] that addressed the level of bullying behaviour at their present institution. Prisoners also completed a questionnaire that measured social self-esteem (Texas Social Behaviour Inventory) [Helmreich R, Stapp J. 1974. Bull Psychonomic Soc 4:473-475]. Four categories of prisoners were compared: bullies, victims, those who reported both bullying others and being victimised themselves (bully/victims), and those who were not involved in bullying behaviour. There were no significant differences among bully categories in total self-esteem scores. Men reported significantly higher levels of self-esteem than did women. There were no significant sex or bully category differences in certainty of self-esteem. Self-esteem was found to include a number of individual components that differed between the sexes. The findings are discussed, and directions for future research are suggested.