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.