WHAT IS BULLYING?
School bullying is a type of bullying in which occurs during the time period a child or teenager is in school. It involves repeated physical, verbal or psychological attacks or intimidation directed against a victim who cannot properly defend him or herself because of size or strength, or because the victim is outnumbered or less psychologically resilient. Bullying may include assault, tripping, intimidation, rumor spreading and isolation, demands for money, destruction of property, theft of valued possessions, destruction of another's work and name-calling. And there are some of which are illegal such as sexual harassment (repeated exhibitionism, voyeurism, sexual propositioning, and sexual abuse involving unwanted physical contact); ostracism based on perceived sexual orientation; and hazing (upper-level high school athletes' imposing painfully embarrassing initiation rituals on their new freshmen).
Both males and females have differently toll on how they bully their victims. Men/boys usually bully other boys in physical ways like pushing, punching, and aggression; whereas females are more likely to spread rumors, talk bad about the person, etc. Some reasons behind bullying in schools are race, disabilities, gender, and religion.
School bullying is a type of bullying in which occurs during the time period a child or teenager is in school. It involves repeated physical, verbal or psychological attacks or intimidation directed against a victim who cannot properly defend him or herself because of size or strength, or because the victim is outnumbered or less psychologically resilient. Bullying may include assault, tripping, intimidation, rumor spreading and isolation, demands for money, destruction of property, theft of valued possessions, destruction of another's work and name-calling. And there are some of which are illegal such as sexual harassment (repeated exhibitionism, voyeurism, sexual propositioning, and sexual abuse involving unwanted physical contact); ostracism based on perceived sexual orientation; and hazing (upper-level high school athletes' imposing painfully embarrassing initiation rituals on their new freshmen).
Both males and females have differently toll on how they bully their victims. Men/boys usually bully other boys in physical ways like pushing, punching, and aggression; whereas females are more likely to spread rumors, talk bad about the person, etc. Some reasons behind bullying in schools are race, disabilities, gender, and religion.
WHY IS BULLYING A PROBLEM?
Bullying can affect everyone. From those who are bullied, those who bully, and those who witness bullying. Bullying is linked to many negative outcomes including impacts on mental health, substance use, and suicide. Bullying can put a person in a state of constant fear. Guys and girls who are bullied may find their schoolwork and health suffering. Bullies are at risk for problems, too. Bullying is violence, and it often leads to more violent behaviour as the bully grows up.
Bullying can affect everyone. From those who are bullied, those who bully, and those who witness bullying. Bullying is linked to many negative outcomes including impacts on mental health, substance use, and suicide. Bullying can put a person in a state of constant fear. Guys and girls who are bullied may find their schoolwork and health suffering. Bullies are at risk for problems, too. Bullying is violence, and it often leads to more violent behaviour as the bully grows up.
WHO ARE BEING AFFECTED IN BULLYING?
Kids who are bullied: These students are the targets of bullying behaviour. Some factors put children at more risk of being bullied, but not all children with these characteristics will be bullied. Sometimes, these children may need help learning how to respond to bullying.
Kids who Bully: These students engage in bullying behaviour towards their peers. There are many risk factors that may contribute to the child's involvement in the behaviour. Often, these students require support to change their behaviour and address any other challenges that may be influencing their behaviour.
Witnesses: Even if these students are not bullied or bullying others they can by bullying. Many times, when they see bullying, they may not know what to do to stop it. They may not feel safe stepping in the moment, but there are many other steps they can take.
Kids who are bullied: These students are the targets of bullying behaviour. Some factors put children at more risk of being bullied, but not all children with these characteristics will be bullied. Sometimes, these children may need help learning how to respond to bullying.
Kids who Bully: These students engage in bullying behaviour towards their peers. There are many risk factors that may contribute to the child's involvement in the behaviour. Often, these students require support to change their behaviour and address any other challenges that may be influencing their behaviour.
Witnesses: Even if these students are not bullied or bullying others they can by bullying. Many times, when they see bullying, they may not know what to do to stop it. They may not feel safe stepping in the moment, but there are many other steps they can take.
WHAT ARE THE SOCIAL FACTORS/FORCES/CONDITIONS THAT INSTIGATE THE OCCURRENCE OF BULLYING?
There are a variety of reasons why people bully such as:
Entertainment- In a culture that is fascinated with winning, power, and violence, some experts suggest that it is unrealistic to expect that people will not be influenced to seek power through violence in their own lives. Researchers point to the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as glorification of bullies in the name of entertainment and point out that the high rate of domestic violence means that many young people grow up expecting that violence is an acceptable way to get what one wants. This also includes other violent TV shows, movies, cartoons and even video games.
School itself- If the institution at which the bullying takes place does not have high standards for the way people treat each other, then bullying may be more likely and/or prevalent and have an influence on why people bully.
Social Issues- The fact that one gets more social recognition for negative behaviours than for positive ones can also contribute to reasons why people bully. Jealousy or envy and a lack of personal and social skills to deal with such feelings can also be reasons why people bully.
Family Issues- Families that are not warm and loving and in which feelings are not shared are more likely to have children who bully, either within the family home or in other locations in which the children meet others. Another home environment that is prone to producing bullies is one in which discipline and monitoring are inconsistent and/or a punitive atmosphere exists.
The Bully's Personal History- Children who experience social rejection themselves are more likely to pass it on to others. Children who experience academic failure are also more likely to bully others.
There are a variety of reasons why people bully such as:
Entertainment- In a culture that is fascinated with winning, power, and violence, some experts suggest that it is unrealistic to expect that people will not be influenced to seek power through violence in their own lives. Researchers point to the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as glorification of bullies in the name of entertainment and point out that the high rate of domestic violence means that many young people grow up expecting that violence is an acceptable way to get what one wants. This also includes other violent TV shows, movies, cartoons and even video games.
School itself- If the institution at which the bullying takes place does not have high standards for the way people treat each other, then bullying may be more likely and/or prevalent and have an influence on why people bully.
Social Issues- The fact that one gets more social recognition for negative behaviours than for positive ones can also contribute to reasons why people bully. Jealousy or envy and a lack of personal and social skills to deal with such feelings can also be reasons why people bully.
Family Issues- Families that are not warm and loving and in which feelings are not shared are more likely to have children who bully, either within the family home or in other locations in which the children meet others. Another home environment that is prone to producing bullies is one in which discipline and monitoring are inconsistent and/or a punitive atmosphere exists.
The Bully's Personal History- Children who experience social rejection themselves are more likely to pass it on to others. Children who experience academic failure are also more likely to bully others.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROBLEM?
Kids who are bullied: Kids who are bullied can experience negative physical, social, and mental health issues. Kids who are bullied are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. In the social area, victims have few friends or none at all. Due to their high anxiety level and low self-worth, it is very hard for them to make friends. This leads to feelings of isolation and believing that they are not even worthy of having friends. These issues may persist into adulthood. They may also experience health complaints; it can also be the reason for their decreased academic achievement and school participation. They are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school. Another possible result of being bullied is that victims may become violent, either at the time of the bullying or in their futures. This violent behaviour may be directed toward themselves, toward their school in general, or may even be directed as retaliation toward the bullies themselves. Victims are also more likely to have attempted suicide than their non-bullied peers. The term "bullycide" is used to describe a victim's suicide that occurs due to extreme bullying behaviour by a bully toward that victim.
Kids who bully others: Kids who bully others can also engage in violent and other risky behaviours into adulthood. Kids who bully are more likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs in adolescence and as adults; get into fights, vandalise property, and drop out of school; engage in early sexual activity; have criminal convictions and traffic citations as adults and be abusive toward their romantic partners, spouses, or children as adults. Most bullies do not just "outgrow" their bullying behaviours when they get older. Instead, the aggressive behaviour continues into adulthood. The bullies' need for power tends to carry on into their grownup years. Their need for power can also show up in how they parent their own children. In turn, their children may even bully other children in the future. A researcher discovered that bullies were more likely to have an antisocial personality disorder. It involves a long-term disregard for others, delinquent behaviour, violence, aggression, and violation of the rights of others. In other words, since bullies do not learn appropriate social skills when they are young, they grow up to be antisocial adults. They will have poor relationships with others, including family members, friends, co-workers, etc.
Bystanders/witnesses: There are also consequences for children who are bystanders or witnesses to bullying. They suffer from frustration, fear, low self-esteem, and a loss of control. They may also feel a huge sense of guilt about the bullying they witness, especially if they do not save or help the victim and the bullying continues. Sometimes their guilt is too much for them to accept. In these cases, the witnesses may go from emphasising with the victim to later thinking that the bullying is acceptable. This is their way of preventing themselves from feeling more guilt in the future; they will simply not even recognise that someone is being hurt. Witnesses also develop a lot of anxiety and stress. They worry that they will also become a victim and therefore their feelings of safety and security at school decrease. This leads to negative feelings toward school, which can also contribute to problems with learning and achievement.
Kids who are bullied: Kids who are bullied can experience negative physical, social, and mental health issues. Kids who are bullied are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. In the social area, victims have few friends or none at all. Due to their high anxiety level and low self-worth, it is very hard for them to make friends. This leads to feelings of isolation and believing that they are not even worthy of having friends. These issues may persist into adulthood. They may also experience health complaints; it can also be the reason for their decreased academic achievement and school participation. They are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school. Another possible result of being bullied is that victims may become violent, either at the time of the bullying or in their futures. This violent behaviour may be directed toward themselves, toward their school in general, or may even be directed as retaliation toward the bullies themselves. Victims are also more likely to have attempted suicide than their non-bullied peers. The term "bullycide" is used to describe a victim's suicide that occurs due to extreme bullying behaviour by a bully toward that victim.
Kids who bully others: Kids who bully others can also engage in violent and other risky behaviours into adulthood. Kids who bully are more likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs in adolescence and as adults; get into fights, vandalise property, and drop out of school; engage in early sexual activity; have criminal convictions and traffic citations as adults and be abusive toward their romantic partners, spouses, or children as adults. Most bullies do not just "outgrow" their bullying behaviours when they get older. Instead, the aggressive behaviour continues into adulthood. The bullies' need for power tends to carry on into their grownup years. Their need for power can also show up in how they parent their own children. In turn, their children may even bully other children in the future. A researcher discovered that bullies were more likely to have an antisocial personality disorder. It involves a long-term disregard for others, delinquent behaviour, violence, aggression, and violation of the rights of others. In other words, since bullies do not learn appropriate social skills when they are young, they grow up to be antisocial adults. They will have poor relationships with others, including family members, friends, co-workers, etc.
Bystanders/witnesses: There are also consequences for children who are bystanders or witnesses to bullying. They suffer from frustration, fear, low self-esteem, and a loss of control. They may also feel a huge sense of guilt about the bullying they witness, especially if they do not save or help the victim and the bullying continues. Sometimes their guilt is too much for them to accept. In these cases, the witnesses may go from emphasising with the victim to later thinking that the bullying is acceptable. This is their way of preventing themselves from feeling more guilt in the future; they will simply not even recognise that someone is being hurt. Witnesses also develop a lot of anxiety and stress. They worry that they will also become a victim and therefore their feelings of safety and security at school decrease. This leads to negative feelings toward school, which can also contribute to problems with learning and achievement.
Different Perspectives:
Feminist perspective
Feminists think that instead of widening the gap of bullying, their goal is to narrow it. They believe the only way to do this is through level-headed discussions where they can build trust and empathy across the divide. And that starts with level-headed discussions amongst themselves about what must be done to better achieve their goal.
Conflict perspective
School bullying in a conflict perspective is that students go about finding trouble and creating trouble for other students as they suffer from psychological disorders and mental problems. They suffer from inferiority complex and they might also have lack of attention hence they create conflict to get attention and feed their ego.
Feminist perspective
Feminists think that instead of widening the gap of bullying, their goal is to narrow it. They believe the only way to do this is through level-headed discussions where they can build trust and empathy across the divide. And that starts with level-headed discussions amongst themselves about what must be done to better achieve their goal.
Conflict perspective
School bullying in a conflict perspective is that students go about finding trouble and creating trouble for other students as they suffer from psychological disorders and mental problems. They suffer from inferiority complex and they might also have lack of attention hence they create conflict to get attention and feed their ego.