Downtown talk to look at cyberbullying

Western Washington University Psychology Professor David Sattler will give a talk titled “Cyberbullying: What Parents and Teachers Should Know” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12 in the Bellingham City Council Chambers, 210 Lottie St., in Bellingham.

The free, public talk, an installment of the WWU College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean’s Lecture Series, is co-sponsored by the City of Bellingham.

How can we keep our children safe from humiliation, taunts, threats, and rumors on the internet and social media sites? What motivates children to cyberbully, how does it affect the victim, and what are consequences for the bystanders who observe the acts? What messages might children receive from video games and reality television programming that make cyberbullying appear acceptable?

This presentation addresses these key issues and discusses potential emotional, psychological, and behavioral consequences for both the perpetrator and victim, how to recognize the warning signs, how to respond, and strategies to minimize cyberbullying.

Sattler received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from San Diego State University, and his master’s and doctorate degrees in Social Psychology from Michigan State University. His research examines how people respond to traumatic events and normative influences in a variety of situations. Together with his students, he has been examining cyberbullying and the influence of social norms on the internet.

Audience questions for Sattler’s March 12 talk will be welcomed. The lecture will be recorded and shown on Bellingham TV Channel 10.

For more information on this lecture, please contact Kimberley Kolb Ayre, WWU College of Humanities & Social Sciences, (360) 650-3763, or kimkolb.ayre@wwu.edu

 The College of Humanities and Social Services (CHSS), the university’s largest college, includes the 13 departments of : Anthropology; Communication Sciences and Disorders; Physical Education, Health and Recreation; Political Science; Psychology; Sociology; Communication Studies; English; History; Journalism; Liberal Studies; Modern and Classical Languages, and Philosophy as well as three interdisciplinary programs: East Asian Studies, Linguistics, and Women Studies.