Peer Aggression in Taiwanese Schools

This chapter provides a background of findings from studies undertaken in Taiwan on bullying and school violence, and findings from data collected from Taiwanese students in the study. It describes Taiwanese schooling and the research context for study participants in Taiwan. Like other places in the world, school communities in Taiwan show great concern about peer aggression and bullying inside schools. Compulsory education in Taiwan is structured into four tiers, beginning with elementary school at about the age of six. Students in Taiwan face a high-stakes exam system if they wish to follow academic tracks from junior to high school, and to gain admission into a tertiary institution. Interpersonal harmony is stressed as a very important value in Taiwanese culture. The chapter aims to examine peer aggression as well as the bullying experiences of young people in Taiwan. It shows that Taiwanese students participate in harmful peer aggression at low levels when compared to students from other countries.