What is Bullying?
What is Bullying?
Bullying is intentional harmful behavior initiated by one or more students and directed toward another student. Bullying exists when a student with more social and/or physical power deliberately dominates and harasses another who has less power. Bullying is unjustified and typically repeated.
· Bullying differs from conflict. Two or more students can have a disagreement or a conflict. Bullying involves a power imbalance element where a bully targets a student who has difficulty defending him or herself.
· Bullies often feel justified in inflicting hurtful behavior because they think their victims deserve the mistreatment.
· Students who are repeatedly victimized experience more physical and psychological problems than non-bullied peers.
· Bullying occurs both with and without a teacher or another adult present.
· Bullies appear to be concerned with their own wants, pleasures, and needs.
· Bullies are more likely than non-bullies to be involved in vandalism, fighting, theft, substance abuse, truancy, or to have an arrest by young adulthood.
· Victims can withdraw and become depressed if bullying continues over time. Some victims could take extreme measures and seek violent revenge or consider suicide.