Addressing bias-based bullying in schools: Behavior change methods for stigma reduction

Bias-based bullying describes bullying behavior in an intergroup context in which someone is bullied because of their membership of a particular group. This constitutes a significant health concern for children with socially devalued identities, characteristics, and attributes. Compared to interpersonal bullying, bias-based bullying is driven by processes of stigma and, therefore, strategies focusing on stigma reduction need to be incorporated in intervention development. Chapter 21 aims to support intervention developers, policymakers, school personnel, and other professionals by providing an overview of evidence-based behavior change methods, with examples of practical applications, for tackling bias-based bullying. The first part of the chapter explains bias-based bullying within the context of stigma theory. We utilize Bos et al.’s (2013) model of stigma as a framework to differentiate between public stigma, stigma-by-association, structural stigma, and self-stigma. A brief literature review illustrates how these stigma types apply to key actors involved in bias-based bullying in schools. We identify main determinants that facilitate or reduce bias-based bullying. Building on these determinants, the second part of the chapter presents an overview of relevant behavior change methods derived from stigma theory to address bias-based bullying. The chapter concludes with the recommendation that addressing bias-based bullying requires comprehensive stigma-focused interventions.