Final answer:
Roderick is engaging in bullying against Edwin by repeatedly inflicting harm and encouraging others to laugh at him. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or psychological, and is influenced by societal norms and gender roles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Roderick's behavior towards Edwin on the playground, where he hits or kicks Edwin and encourages others to laugh at him, is an example of bullying. Bullying is defined as repeated negative treatment of another person over time, which includes attempts to inflict harm, injury, or humiliation. This behavior can be physical, verbal, or even psychological. In the context of child development, bullying can have serious negative mental health consequences on young individuals.
It's important to note that children's aggressive behaviors can be shaped by cultural scripts regarding masculinity, which may justify such behaviors with phrases like 'boys will be boys'. These cultural norms play a role in how children learn to interact socially and can manifest in gender differences in bullying, where boys may display more physical forms of aggression, while girls may engage in more indirect, relational aggression.