Flattening the Hierarchy: A Solution to the Male Problem of Bullying

Larry Kofi Asiwome Afun; Anthony Kweku Foli  Akwetea-Mensah; Zachery  Annancy; Cal Senam Afun; Klenam Antoine  François De-Souza

doi:10.4314/just.v43i1.1541

Larry Kofi Asiwome Afun University of Toronto https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6917-4332
Anthony Kweku Foli Akwetea-Mensah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8456-2688
Zachery Annancy Ashesi University https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2530-8374
Cal Senam Afun Ashesi University https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1822-268X
Klenam Antoine François De-Souza University of Cape Coast, Ghana https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7269-6841

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/just.v43i1.1541

Keywords: bullying, psychological behaviour, educational age, dominance hierarchy, senior high school education, Ghana

Abstract

Bullying is a social problem that not only physically and psychologically affects victims but also disrupts the process of teaching and learning in senior high schools (SHS). We used an exploratory sequential mixed-method design comprising a survey and a double-blinded experiment to study the role of dominance hierarchy as the primary mechanism of bullying to effectively design anti-bullying strategies. The sample size used in the survey to validate the influence of dominance hierarchical structures on bullying was 79 students, while the experimental design to causally link dominance hierarchy to bullying included a sample of 21 students. The dominance hierarchy is one in which bullying behavior is exhibited as a means to rise up a social hierarchy. The current study validated that the dominance hierarchy is the more prevalent form of bullying in Ghana. We also observed that while bullying behavior sharply increases in SHS 3, bullying victimization does the opposite. This allows us to implement anti-bullying strategies for the most affected groups. Finally, the highest percentage of bullied individuals in SHS 1 are those who have a high social status relative to their peers, and the students who bully most frequently in SHS 3 are those who have a lower social status in school compared to their peers. Flattening the hierarchy is an effective way to significantly decrease bullying behavior. Therefore, measures such as increasing senior-junior cooperation through leadership positions, which are largely absent in SHS, will be effective at substantially decreasing bullying behavior in our schools.

Author Biographies

Larry Kofi Asiwome Afun , University of Toronto

Larry Afun is a 4th-year undergraduate Physiology and Immunology research student at the University of Toronto. His main research interest revolves around understanding the different ways glia interact in disease contexts such as Multiple Sclerosis and Traumatic Brain injury. He also has a keen interest in studying issues of social concern in Ghana in hopes of finding solutions to them.

Anthony Kweku Foli Akwetea-Mensah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Anthony Akwetea-Mensah serves as a research analyst at Origen Private Debt Fund. His primary research interests lie in the field of Data Science, with a particular focus on database management, design, and Artificial Intelligence. Additionally, he is passionate about exploring data utilization within private enterprises in Ghana and identifying strategies to enhance data practices across the country.

Zachery Annancy, Ashesi University

Zachery Annacy received his BSc. in Computer Science graduate from Ashesi University. CRM specialist at Foundervine. He is passionate about using data to solve real-world problems

Cal Senam Afun, Ashesi University

Cal Afun is a 1st year undergraduate Computer Engineering student at Ashesi University. His main interest revolves around designing and manufacturing, utilizing software like SolidWorks for 3D modelling and engineering. He is also involved in ethnographic research for a research project focusing on the lack of the lack of enthusiasm Ghanaian High School students have for school.

Klenam Antoine François De-Souza , University of Cape Coast, Ghana

Klenam De-Souza is a 1st-year undergraduate Computer Science student at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He is passionate about leveraging technology to solve real-world problems and is eager to explore the vast field of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.