Summary 

The speaker gives a background of the UCLA PEERS program, highlighting its evidence-based structure (1:45). She defines peer rejection and social neglect and discusses how to identify them in autistic youth (3:13). Nair considers the consequences of peer rejection and notes that it strongly predicts mental health difficulties, loneliness, suicidal ideation, and attempt (5:13). Adolescents with autism, she continues, are nine times more likely to experience victimization than their non-autistic peers. However, autistic teens with co-occurring ADHD are four times more likely to engage in bullying behavior (6:39). She explains how bullying and bad reputations often result from individuals trying to be accepted by bullies or other people who take advantage of them (8:00).  

Nair defines bullying as a subtype of aggression that occurs when negative actions directed at a student(s) are repetitive, chronic, and characterized by a power imbalance (10:30). Bullying can be physical, verbal (teasing), relational (rumor spreading, social exclusion), and electronic (cyberbullying) (11:03). She describes how to address each type of bullying using the PEERS guidelines and shares role-playing videos with perspective-taking follow-up questions. She presents corresponding clinical examples for various scenarios. 

Verbal Bullying – Teasing  

Adolescents with autism often respond to teasing by becoming upset or trying to tease back. According to clinical studies, however, this does not reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim again in the future (13:13). The presenter shares guidelines for handling teasing (13:55) and suggests that teens memorize three short comebacks to use in these situations (16:34). She underscores the importance of persistence and shares a positive role-playing video (17:42).  

Physical Bullying 

Responses to physical bullying are often the same (becoming upset, fighting back, telling an adult) and can have adverse effects on social status and future victimization (21:18). Nair suggests avoiding physical bullies, planning your class route, and hanging out with other teens to deter interactions (22:45). If someone is in danger, she states, it is best to tell an adult discreetly. She emphasizes the importance of not trying to intervene (24:57).  

Cyber Bullying 

The speaker states that cyberbullies want their victims to react and get upset, scared, or bothered (27:36). She underscores the importance of not responding to such attacks and having supportive friends to stand up for you in these situations (28:11). Nair suggests saving the evidence of cyberbullying before deleting any accounts in case law enforcement needs to get involved (30:48).  

Rumors and Gossip 

Nair states that the best way to avoid being the target of gossip is to avoid being friends (or enemies) with people who gossip (32:04). Our natural response to rumors is to defend ourselves and explain the truth. However, the speaker continues, trying to disprove someone often makes you look guilty in social settings. Instead, it is best to pretend you are not upset and to act amazed that anyone would believe or care about such a thing (the rumor) (36:29). Nair provides steps and guidelines for dealing with rumors and gossip and shares positive and negative role-play videos.  

Throughout the presentation, the speaker urges youth to confide in supportive friends and adults and stresses the importance of practicing these scenarios at home before employing them in real-time. Before opening the question-and-answer session, the speaker outlines PEERS resources and role-playing video library access.