European Journa7 ofPsychology ofEducation 1996, tlol.XI, n ~ ], 97-110 9 1996, LS.P.A. Bullies and victims in schools in central and southem Italy Maria Luisa Genta Ersilia Menesini Ada Fonzi University of Florence, Italy Angela Costabile UniversiO~of Calabria, Italy Peter K. Smith University of Sheffield, UnitedKingdom Anonymous questionnaires assessing the amount and nature of bul- lying/victimization were given to 1379 primary and middle school pupils (8-11; 11-14yrs) in two towns of Central and Southern Italy, Florence and Cosenza. The questionnaire closely followed the design of Olweus (1991) and Whitney and Smith (1993). Results were analysed in terms of percentages of bullying others and being bullied, types of bul- lying behaviour, where it occurred and who were the perpretators. Bullying )vas reported in both Italian areas at a more substantial level than found in other countries, ineluding Norway, England, Spain and Japan, although it presented similar structural features to those report- ed elsewhere: being bullied decreased in older pupils, bullying others was most likely to be admitted by boys, the perpetretators were in the same class as the victims. Considering direct and indirect forms of bul- lying, year and gender differenees are discussed for the two Italian areas and in cross-national perspective. Introduetion Very little is known about the issue of bullying and victimization by peers in Ilalian schools and about the problems connected to it. Yet, evidence from other countries suggests The project was made possible by the co-operation of the Department of Psychology of Florence University (Italy), the Deparanent of Psychology of the University of Sheffield (U.K.), the Department of Educational Sciences of Calabria University (Italy) and the flnanr support of Prof. A. Fonzi and Dr. M.L. Genta (Delaartment of Psyehology, Florence University, Italy). The authors would like to thank Prof. D. Olweus for his valuable eomments, and Drs. C. Berti, A. Brighi, E. Ciucci, E. Giannetti, F. Innocenti, T. Lio, A. Palermiti, C. Primi G. Tomada for thr r Drs. R. Salvini ~md A. Argentino for statistical advice; the students C. Ber D. Vindigni and G. Zampella for their help and enthusiasm. Finally we would like to warmly thank all the staff and pupils of the schools participating in this study for their patir help and tolerance of our intrusion.