Fear and Insecurity: Bullying in Lithuanian Schools during a Period of Change
Fear and Insecurity: Bullying in Lithuanian Schools during a Period of Change
Friday, 11 July 2025: 01:15
Location: SJES019 (Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences (JES))
Oral Presentation
The socio-economic and socio-demographic situation in Lithuanian towns and villages at the beginning of Lithuanian independence was exceptional. Lithuanian society was going through a period of systemic transformation, which affected all spheres of life. These changes were felt not only by adults, but also by children, who are one of the most sensitive and vulnerable groups in society. Young people experienced change and uncertainty in both the private and public spheres.
This presentation will focus on the school environment, where young people spend most of their time and are in close contact with both adult teachers and a large community of peers. In order to reconstruct the culture of punishment and bullying that existed at the beginning of Lithuanian independence, the memories of adults born between 1980 and 2000 will be analysed through biographical interviews.
School bullying was first defined by Olweus (1978), who highlighted three core components: power imbalance, repetition and aggression. This framework has guided numerous studies of the phenomenon. Ahmed and Braithwaite (2014) expanded on Olweus' definition by introducing the concept of shame management, exploring how bullying is influenced by both constructive and destructive expressions of shame and honour.
Building on these theoretical foundations, this presentation examines fundamental aspects of children's perceptions of the social world, moral values and behavioural strategies at the time. Interviews reveal a strong emphasis on feelings of fear and insecurity, lack of social authority, and personal experiences of bullying during their formative years. This research not only contextualises bullying within a historical framework, but also sheds light on its lasting impact on the lives of those who lived through this transformative period.
This presentation will focus on the school environment, where young people spend most of their time and are in close contact with both adult teachers and a large community of peers. In order to reconstruct the culture of punishment and bullying that existed at the beginning of Lithuanian independence, the memories of adults born between 1980 and 2000 will be analysed through biographical interviews.
School bullying was first defined by Olweus (1978), who highlighted three core components: power imbalance, repetition and aggression. This framework has guided numerous studies of the phenomenon. Ahmed and Braithwaite (2014) expanded on Olweus' definition by introducing the concept of shame management, exploring how bullying is influenced by both constructive and destructive expressions of shame and honour.
Building on these theoretical foundations, this presentation examines fundamental aspects of children's perceptions of the social world, moral values and behavioural strategies at the time. Interviews reveal a strong emphasis on feelings of fear and insecurity, lack of social authority, and personal experiences of bullying during their formative years. This research not only contextualises bullying within a historical framework, but also sheds light on its lasting impact on the lives of those who lived through this transformative period.