BULLYING

Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior in

which someone intentionally and repeatedly
causes another person injury or discomfort. The
behavior is often repeated and habitual.
Bullying can involve verbal attacks (name-
calling and making fun of others) as well as
physical ones, threats of harm, other forms of
intimidation, and deliberate exclusion from
activities. Studies indicate that bullying
peaks around ages 11 to 13 and decreases as
children grow older. A bullying culture can
develop in any context in which humans interact
with each other. This may include school,
family, the workplace, the home, and
neighborhoods. Most bullying occurs in and
around school and on playgrounds, although the
internet lends itself to particularly
distressing forms of bullying. Approximately 20
percent of the students’ report being bullied
at school. Boys and girls are equally likely to
be bullied. The bullied individual typically
has trouble defending him or herself and does
nothing to “cause” the bullying. Individual
bullying is usually characterized by a person
behaving in a certain way to gain power over
another person. Physical bullying is rarely the
first form of bullying that a victim will
experience. Often bullying will begin in a
different form and later progress to physical
violence. Verbal bullying is one of the most
common types of bullying. Bullying usually
begins at this stage. Relational bullying is a
form of bullying common among youth. Social
exclusion (making someone feel "left out") is
one of the most common types of relational
bullying. Relational bullying can be used as a
tool by bullies to both improve their social
standing and control others. Unlike physical
bullying which is obvious, relational bullying
is not overt and can continue for a long time
without being noticed. Cyberbullying is the
use of technology to harass, threaten,
embarrass, or target another person. This
includes bullying by use of email, instant
messaging, social media websites, text
messages, and cell phones. It is stated that
Cyberbullying is more common in secondary
school than in primary school. Studies have
shown that envy and resentment may be motives
for bullying. While some bullies are arrogant
and narcissistic, they can also use bullying as
a tool to conceal shame or anxiety or to boost
self-esteem: by demeaning others, the abuser
feels empowered. Bullies may bully out of
jealousy or because they themselves are
bullied. Bullies are made, not born, and it
happens at an early age. Low levels of self-
esteem have been identified as a frequent
antecedent of bullying victimization. Victims
of traditional bullying tend to have lower
global, social, body-related, and emotional
self-esteem compared to uninvolved students.
Children who are bullied often show physical or
emotional signs, such as: being afraid to
attend school, complaining of headaches or a
loss of appetite, a lack of interest in school
activities, spending time with friends or
family, reluctance to go out in public for fear
they may encounter their bullies in public
places other than school, and having an overall
sense of sadness. Those who have been the
targets of bullying can develop long-term
emotional and behavioral problems, sometimes
leading up to suicide. Bullying can cause
loneliness, depression and anxiety. Targets of
bullying who were also bullies themselves
exhibit even greater social difficulties. A
mental health report also found that bullying
was linked to eating disorders, body dysmorphia
and other negative psychological effects. Both
victims and bullies have been shown to exhibit
higher levels of loneliness. A bully may
project his/her own feelings of vulnerability
onto the target of the bullying activity.
Bullying is the activity of repeated,
aggressive behavior intended to hurt another
individual, physically, mentally, or
emotionally. Many campaigns and events are
designated to bullying prevention throughout
the world. Common ways that people try to
respond, are to try to ignore it, to confront
the bullies or to turn to an authority figure
to try to address it. Ignoring it often does
nothing to stop the bullying continuing, and it
can become worse over time. It can be important
to address bullying behavior early on, as it
can be easier to control the earlier it is
detected. Bystanders play an important role in
responding to bullying, as doing nothing can
encourage it to continue, while small steps
that oppose the behavior can reduce it. The
best defense against bullying is being socially
skilled—teaching all children social skills and
allowing them to develop confidence in their
own abilities. Some of the most effective ways
to respond, are to recognize that harmful
behavior is taking place, and creating an
environment where it won't continue.