BULLYING

Definitions Bullying may be defined as the activity of repeated, aggressive behavior intended to hurt another person, physically or mentally. Bullying is characterized by an individual behaving in a certain way to gain power over another person. Norwegian researcher Dan Olweus[11 says bullying occurs when a person is! "e#posed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons". $e says negative actions occur "when a person intentionally inflicts in%ury or discomfort upon another person, through physical contact, through words or in other ways. Characteristics Of bullying in general Bullying consists of three basic types of abuse & emotional, verbal, and physical. 't typically involves subtle methods of coercion such as intimidation. Bullying behavior may include name calling, verbal or written abuse, e#clusion from activities, e#clusion from social situations, physical abuse, or coercion (ccording to the ).*. National +enter for ,ducation *tatistics -.//01, appro#imately 2.3 of ).*. school children reported being bullied at school4 nearly 53 reported being cyber6 bullied.[17 8he +enter suggests -.//11 that bullying can be classified into two categories! 1. direct bullying, and .. indirect bullying -which is also 9nown as social aggression1. :oss states that direct bullying involves a great deal of physical aggression, such as shoving and po9ing, throwing things, slapping, cho9ing, punching and 9ic9ing, beating, stabbing, pulling hair, scratching, biting, scraping, and pinching.[1; $e also suggests that social aggression or indirect bullying is characterized by attempting to socially isolate the target. 8his isolation is achieved through a wide variety of techni<ues, including spreading gossip, refusing to socialize with the target, bullying other people who wish to socialize with the target, and criticizing the target"s manner of dress and other socially6significant mar9ers -including the target"s race, religion, disability, se#, or se#ual preference, etc.1. :oss[1; outlines an array of nonviolent behavior which can be considered =indirect bullying=, at least in some instances, such as name calling, the silent treatment, arguing others into submission, manipulation, gossip>false gossip, lies, rumors>false rumors, staring, giggling, laughing at the target, saying certain words that trigger a reaction from a past event, and moc9ing. 8he )? based children"s charity, (ct (gainst Bullying, was set up in .//2 to help children who were targets of this type of bullying by researching and publishing coping s9ills.

't has been noted that there tend to be differences in how bullying manifests itself between the se#es. @ales tend to be more li9ely to be physically aggressive whereas females tend to favour e#clusion and moc9ery, though it has been noticed that females are becoming more physical in their bullying.[1/ 8here can be a tendency in both se#es to opt for e#clusion and moc9ery rather than physical aggression when the target is perceived to be too strong to attac9 without ris9, or the use of violence would otherwise cause problems for the bullies such as criminal liability, or the bullies see physical aggression as immature -particularly when bullying occurs among adults1.[citation needed Aay and lesbian youth are more li9ely to report bullying and more negative effects [.1
[./

and may suffer more bullying

What is bullying?

Bullying includes more than physical assaults. It can also involve the following. Verbal attacks. irls can be brutal with their words!" says #$%year%old &eline. I'll never forget the names they called me or the things they said. (hey made me feel worthless! unwanted! and good%for%nothing. I'd rather have been given a black eye." )ocial isolation. *y schoolmates started to avoid me!" says +,%year%old -aley. (hey would make it seem that there was no room at the lunch table so I couldn't sit with them. .or the whole year! I cried and ate alone." &yber bullying. With /ust a few keystrokes on a computer!" says +0% year%old 1aniel! you can ruin someone's reputation2or even his life. It sounds like an overstatement! but it can happen3" &yber bullying also includes sending harmful photos or te4t messages using a cellphone. Why do people bully others? (hese are some common reasons. (hey themselves have been bullied. (hey have poor role models. (hey act as if they are superior2and yet they're insecure. Who is most likely to be a target? 5oners. )ome young people who lack social skills isolate themselves from others and become easy marks for bullies. 6ouths who are perceived as being different. )ome youths are targeted by bullies because of their appearance! race! or religion or even because they have a disability2anything the bully can pick on. 6ouths who lack self%confidence. Bullies can detect those who think negatively of themselves. (hese are often the easiest targets! since they're not likely to fight back.

What can you do if you're bullied? 1on't react. Bullies want to know that they've succeeded in making you feel bad about yourself!" says a young woman named 7ylie. If you don't react! they lose interest." (he Bible says8 -e that is wise keeps it calm to the last."29roverbs #:8++. 1on't retaliate. ;evenge will add to the problem! not solve it. (he Bible says8 ;eturn evil for evil to no one."2;omans +#8+<=9roverbs #08+:. 1on't walk into trouble. (o the e4tent possible! avoid people and situations where bullying may occur.29roverbs ##8>. (ry an une4pected response. (he Bible says8 ?n answer! when mild! turns away rage."29roverbs +@8+. Ase humor. .or e4ample! if a bully asserts that you're overweight! you could simply shrug your shoulders and say! I guess I could lose a few pounds3" Walk away. )ilence shows that you are mature and that you are stronger than the person harassing you!" says +:%year%old Bora. It demonstrates self% control2something the bully doesn't have." Work on your self%confidence. Bullies notice when you aren't rela4ed!" says a girl named ;ita! and they might use that to destroy whatever self%confidence you have." (ell someone. ?ccording to one survey! more than half of all victims who are bullied online don't report what's going on! possibly because of shame Cespecially for boysD or fear of retaliation. But remember! bullies thrive on secrecy. )peaking up can be the first step to ending the nightmare.