The 21st “Psychology Agenda”, organised this year on the theme of ‘bullying’ by the Department of Psychology of the Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU) Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, was held with the participation of HKU students as well as psychologists and school psychological counsellors from Gaziantep and neighbouring provinces.
At the Psychology Agenda, held at the HKU Congress and Culture Centre and focusing on the main theme of ‘bullying’, Prof. Dr. Mücahit Öztürk, faculty member of the Department of Psychology at İbn Haldun University; Prof. Dr. Osman Tolga Arıcak, faculty member of the Department of Basic Education at Boğaziçi University; and Betül Korkmaz, Research Assistant at the HKU Faculty of Law, took part as speakers.
HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli, noting that the 21st Psychology Agenda offers an important opportunity to address key issues in psychological science, raise awareness and learn together, said: “Today we are focusing here on ‘bullying’, a serious problem faced by our society and especially by young people. Combating bullying is the responsibility not only of individuals but of the whole society. Developing effective strategies against bullying in educational institutions, workplaces, digital platforms and social circles will contribute to a more peaceful life for both individuals and society. We thank our Department of Psychology for bringing this important issue to the agenda.”
Following the opening speeches, Prof. Dr. Mücahit Öztürk gave a presentation titled “Psychopathologies in Children Who Are Bullied and Who Bully”. In his presentation, Prof. Dr. Mücahit Öztürk underlined the issues requiring attention, with explanations supported by case examples on the concept and types of bullying, the psychological effects of bullying, bullying in the school environment, and problems related to psychopathological symptoms in children. With his presentation on “Cyberbullying in Children and Adolescents”, Prof. Dr. Osman Tolga Arıcak gave comprehensive information on the concept of ‘cyber’ and on cyberbullying occurring on the internet and in electronic environments. Research Assistant Betül Korkmaz, in her presentation titled “A Legal Approach to Peer Bullying in Schools”, conveyed to the participants the legal dimensions of and legal regulations on combating bullying.
