Psychologist Shpagina: with cyberbullying, both the victim and the aggressor need help | Psychology of life | Health

Not only the victims of cyberbullying, but also the aggressors themselves need psychological work. This topic was discussed at the Moscow City News Agency with Elena Shpagina, associate professor of the Department of Legal Psychology and Law of the Faculty of Legal Psychology of the Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, candidate of psychological sciences, lawyer.

Shpagina insists on the need to develop a mechanism that will resist bullying – real and on the Internet.

“These could be measures to legally resolve the problem, technical means of filtering and blocking such content, as well as psychological and pedagogical measures affecting all participants in cyber aggression,” says the psychologist.

The Agency’s interlocutor is also sure that not only the victim needs help, but also the one who showed aggression. According to Shpagina, the aggressor may have serious psychological problems and a personal crisis, and he himself needs attention and rehabilitation with the help of a professional.

And, of course, the victim suffers: the person may experience anxiety, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression. In the most extreme cases, suicidal thoughts may occur.

“You need to protect yourself from aggression, and such means exist. Each social network has security measures in its arsenal. If you can’t block the offender yourself, contact support,” the expert recommends.

Shpagina is sure that confronting bullying alone can be very difficult. You can ask family and friends for help. It will be useful to contact a psychologist: a professional will help you work through situations and find tools to protect yourself from someone else’s aggression.