BB eviction a form of violence: Expert

GRIFFITH University bullying researcher Dr Linda Shallcross says Kinghorn's admission that she would have stood behind Jake during Tuesday's eviction was validating the housemates' dislike of her.
Kinghorn's response also condones the way she was treated by the show's producers even though viewers vented their anger at the eviction process on social media, says Dr Shallcross. "I didn't feel bullied. I didn't feel humiliated. I would have stood behind Jake too, he is a great guy," Kinghorn told AAP on Wednesday. Kinghorn was evicted after the 14 housemates were told to stand behind either her, or her playing partner Jake, to decide who should stay in the house. The housemates also had to give a reason why. The eviction was called cruel, mean and bullying on Big Brother's official Facebook page. Dr Shallcross said the eviction was mobbing, where people gang up on one person, and a "form of violence". She said domestic violence victims often rationalise the acts of others by blaming themselves and Kinghorn seemed to be following suit. "It's similar to a domestic violence situation," Dr Shallcross said. "She's blaming herself and that's typical victim behaviour like domestic violence. "A woman (who is a victim of domestic violence) will say I must have done something to aggravate them for them to do this." Even though Kinghorn says she was not bullied, she admits the eviction process was tough and doubts if fellow housemate, dreamy 20-year-old, Skye would have copped. "I don't think others could handle it as well as I could handle it," Kinghorn said. "If that was Skye she would be a mess, whereas I have been through that school yard pick and the one that is not chosen." Dr Shallcross also said the outcry on social media highlights the effect bullying, or mobbing, has on witnesses and should not be condoned. "It has an impact on the people who view it," Dr Shallcross said. Dr Shallcross said the example of mobbing was worse because it was a reality TV show and sent the wrong message to children and teenagers. Even though Big Brother airs after 8.30pm weeknights, it's repeated the following afternoon when school children are home. "This is reality TV and it's promoting that it's acceptable behaviour to get rid of someone you don't like," she said. "No matter what she did, and people may say she was a deserving target ... what my concern is that it promotes this kind of behaviour and it's a form of violence." Big Brother's executive producer Alex Mavroidakis was asked to comment about the eviction process but Nine said he was unavailable.