| Summary: | The extensive literature and researches on bullying illustrate the connections between self-esteem and the bullying phenomenon, asserting that both faces, bullying, and being bullied
are related to some degrees with low self-esteem. Considering the bullying behavior as a
form of aggressivity and being bullied as an expression of passive behavior, this study
introduces the third subject of inquiry: the assertive behavior. The study investigates the
impact of self-esteem on assertiveness, passive vs. aggressive conduct, and positive
interactions among high school students. While these aspects were usually investigated at
an early age, this study approaches them in adolescence, involving 82 adolescent students
from high schools from Timisoara, with diverse specializations. The need to fit, the need for
acceptance, and the fear of social rejection increase in adolescence. At this age of dramatic
changes, students are susceptible to verbal, physical, or emotional bullying, with an essential
impact on their self-esteem, as they are very dependent on peers' approval, perceptions and
reactions. Healthy self-esteem and assertiveness might be powerful tools to fight against
bullying, but there is very little focus on teaching them in traditional education. This study
shows the strong correlation between self-esteem and assertiveness, and the predisposition
of students with low self-esteem to passive or aggressive types of interactions.
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