ABSTRACT
A common theme underlying the articles on peer victimization in this volume is the vulnerability of those children and adolescents who are chronically picked on by others. Even more than their perpetrators, the targets of peer hostility face numerous mental health challenges and they are particularly at risk for social and emotional adjustment problems (see Nansel et al., 2001 for a recent review). Unfortunately, many cases of peer harassment go undetected because students are unwilling to talk about getting picked on at school. As a result, school professionals sometimes find themselves dealing with the symptoms of chronic harassment (e.g., feelings of anxiety and depression) before they learn about their cause. An important task for psychologists and other adults in the school setting is, therefore, to accurately identify those students whose adjustment difficulties are due to victimization by peers.
