Contents

Introduction.................................................................................................................................................1
Background..................................................................................................................................................1
Bullying amongst peers...............................................................................................................................3
Examples of social bullying include the following:.......................................................................................3
Bullying on the Internet...............................................................................................................................4
Critical Evaluation........................................................................................................................................4
Increased Supervision in Bullying in USA.....................................................................................................9
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................10
References.................................................................................................................................................12
 1

Introduction
Bullying is an issue that is experienced by people all over the world and can have immediate as
well as long-term repercussions for the individuals who are mistreated. According to Bork-
Hüffer (2021), aggressive behaviour is often characterised by a pattern of repetition and an
imbalance of power. This is how aggressive behaviour is described. In the United States, the
lives of tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of young people are impacted on a daily
basis by the act of bullying. This behaviour is destructive to everyone engaged, as well as to
those who are not involved, and it should not be condoned in any position inside the educational
system since it causes harm to both those who are involved and those who are not involved. You
are about to see that there is a substantial amount of material that is pertinent to the matter at
hand, as you may have guessed. Fortunately, research that has been carried out over the course of
approximately the past 20 years has supplied a good many of the answers; however, there is still
a great deal more to learn, particularly in regards to the most effective means by which it can be
managed and eradicated (Bork-Hüffer, 2021).

Two sisters, ages thirteen and fifteen, killed themselves within a short period of time after being
the target of severe online bullying for several months. The bullying took place on an internet
platform. The young man made the choice to hang himself after being bullied verbally and
physically at school for an extended period of time, which ultimately led to his decision. A child
of fifteen years old jumped thirty feet off of a bridge and was later ran over by automobiles as a
result of false claims and the fact that he was left out of the conversation. The list might be
expanded upon endlessly if necessary. This group includes women and men of every age,
spanning many generations. Whatever the cause may have been, no one heard their cries for
help. Adults are too preoccupied with their own lives to take the time to pause, listen, and
comprehend the various warning signs that are being displayed. How many more individuals
have to have their lives ripped away before this is acceptable? How many mothers and fathers
are forced to carry out the horrible duty of burying their children? Everyone needs to take a look
at the problem of bullying, get together to establish a partnership, and work out the answers to all
of the difficulties that are linked with this worldwide issue.
 2

Background
According to the findings of a number of surveys and research projects, roughly 15 percent of
students are either the targets of regular bullying or the perpetrators of bullying behaviour
themselves. There is a good chance that either you or your child has participated in bullying at
school at some point in your lives. The memories are still present, regardless of whether you
bullied another child, were bullied yourself, or were only a witness to the bullying of another
child (Goodwin, 2019). If bullying is something that happens frequently and adults are aware of
it, why does it still happen? When people are faced in a scenario where they do not know how or
what to act, the majority of the time it is because they are simply unprepared. It is up to us as
parents, teachers, and community members to educate our children about the warning signs of
bullying and the appropriate responses to take, should the situation arise.

Bullying takes no prisoners. It is possible for it to take place anywhere, at any time, and to any
person. Bullies are able to communicate with their victims no matter where they are: in the
classroom, on the bus, in the hallway, during lunch, on the playground, during gym class, in the
bathroom, on the computer, at school activities, on cell phones, or in the community. As a result
of the bully's intentionality, aggression, and persistence in their actions, the victim is forced into
a position of submission and subjugation. Bullies are able to feel really good about themselves
when they wield power, which also enables them to attract the attention of others
(Goodwin¸2019).

It's possible for bullying to start as early as preschool. It happens a lot more frequently than
people realise. It might be challenging to tell the difference between typical "being cruel"
behaviour that occurs frequently in preschool and actual instances of bullying. As preschoolers
develop, try new things, and learn new things, there are moments when their behaviours are
simply instinctual. It is shocking to see how frequently children aged three and four, particularly
boys, use physical force against one another while adults are not present. It is much more
common for girls to reject or have a whole group reject another girl and choose not to play with
her. They are also more likely to engage in verbal assaults. The proverb "sticks and stones may
break my bones, but words can never hurt me" may have a pleasant ring to it, but it is most
certainly not accurate. Words have the power to leave an emotional wound that can never be
healed. It is not feasible to take back comments that have been spoken publicly after they have
 3

been said. Preschoolers may engage in "spats" and wrestling matches that are meant to be
playful, but they almost always end up making amends and forgiving one another. The antithesis
of this is bullying. The behaviour is done on purpose, it has the potential to cause hurt or harm to
victims, and the offender may even laugh afterward. Young children have a significant increase
in levels of tension, worry, and anxiety as a direct result of this type of conduct.

When it comes to children of preschool age, both parents and teachers have a propensity to adopt
a "let's see what happens" mentality. The goal here is to give the behaviours adequate time to
either change on their own or stop entirely. The difficulty with this, however, is that if no action
is taken, the situation may deteriorate further, and someone may even get hurt as a result. It is the
job of parents to shield their children from harm by expressing their worries, making regular trips
to the child's preschool, and assisting the youngster in developing strategies to prevent being
bullied.

Children and adults alike are susceptible to a wide variety of bullying behaviours, some of which
are easy to recognise while others might be more covert in nature. Bullying can take many
various forms. Some of the possible manifestations of bullying are discussed in more detail
below, and they include the various forms that bullying can take.

Abuse, both verbal and physical

Physical bullying encompasses punching, kicking, tripping, pinching and pushing or damaging
property. When someone is bullied physically, the harm that is caused can be short-term or it can
be cumulative over time.

Verbal bullying

Name calling, insults, mocking, intimidation, comments that are homophobic or racist, and other
forms of verbal abuse are all examples of verbal bullying. Other forms of verbal abuse include
cyberbullying and cyberstalking. Even though it may start off harmlessly, a person who is the
target of verbal bullying still runs the risk of it progressing to the point where it becomes harmful
to them.
 4

Bullying amongst peers

Social bullying, which is also referred to as covert bullying at times, is typically more difficult to
identify and can take place behind the back of the person who is being bullied. It is intended to
damage someone's social reputation and/or make them feel embarrassed in some way.

Examples of social bullying include the following:

lying and smearing others' reputations

displays of hostility in the form of facial expressions or bodily gestures, as well as glances of
menace or scorn

causing embarrassment and humiliation by playing nasty jokes on others

imitating unkindly

provoking others to socially isolate a certain individual

causing harm to another person's social standing or approval.

Bullying on the Internet

An official definition from the Cyberbullying Research Centre is as follows: Harmful use of
computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices with an aim to repeatedly inflict pain on
others (Harger, 2016).
Bullying behaviour can be both overt and covert when it is carried out via digital technology
(Loui 2017) In addition to computers and telephones, these digital technologies encompass
applications like social media, instant messaging (SMS), and other online platforms like
websites.
A cyberbullying incident can occur at any time. It is possible for bullying to occur in public or
private settings, and in some cases, only those involved know about it.
The following are some examples of cyberbullying: rude or harmful online behaviour that is
intended to exclude other users: text messages, emails, online posts, images, and videos
impersonating other users online or using their log-in credentials without permission.
 5

Critical Evaluation
There are many various manifestations of bullying, some of which are blatant and others of
which are indirect. The term "direct bullying" refers to any form of bullying that involves
physical contact, such as slapping, kicking, pushing, stealing, or destroying the property of
another person. Calling someone a derogatory name, spreading stories, making disrespectful
statements, making fun of someone's socioeconomic level, looks, religion, or ethnicity, or
frightening them are all examples of verbal bullying. Indirect forms of bullying are frequently
referred to as social bullying. Some examples of indirect forms of bullying include lying,
intentionally trying to damage someone's reputation, gossiping about someone else, excluding
someone from a group, and making unfavourable facial expressions or body gestures. (Moyano,
2020).

Cyberbullying is the most recent manifestation of the bullying phenomenon. This category
includes only instances of bullying that take place through the utilisation of digital mediums,
such as electronic mail, text messages, and social networking sites. The American Medical
Association estimates that 3.7 million young people participate in some form of bullying.
Different from other forms of bullying, cyberbullying can take many different forms (National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine¸2016). Because the abuser uses anonymous
email and screen aliases, the victims are in the dark about the bully's true identity. It is much
simpler to be cruel when the answers of victims are not immediately seen by the bully, and it is
possible for it to go viral, which makes it possible for a far larger number of people to view the
bullying posts. The vast majority of parents and educators will likely be unaware of the
behaviour that takes on online.

Bullies are typically characterised as being aggressive, self-assured, and driven by a strong need
to exert their dominance over others. Bullies covet authority over other people and are prepared
to manipulate and mistreat others in order to achieve their goals. They frequently come from
households where they were not properly monitored and where they were subjected to physical
abuse (Moyano¸2020). Children that are vulnerable to being physically and verbally dominated
are the ones that bullies specifically target. They have poor self-esteem, which contributes to
their quiet, submissive, fearful, or worried demeanour, which makes them susceptible and
 6

noticeable (Orue, 2018). People who are bullied frequently view themselves as incapable of
succeeding. They have a sense of incompetence or that they are deserving of being bullied. Even
celebrities like Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, and Michelle Pfeiffer fell prey to the
attack.

Every youngster is impacted by bullying in some way, shape, or form. Although the most
majority of children do not engage in bullying behaviour nor are they victims of it, they do play a
part in the problem. Bystanders are said to as children who either look away, watch, or actively
participate in bullying by openly encouraging it. Many times, the youngsters are unaware that
they are contributing to the issue simply by watching it unfold before their eyes. A great number
of passersby who do nothing to assist the victim are later concerned by their own lack of
empathy for the victim's situation. Sadly, many people who witness bullying are more inclined to
applaud the behaviour of the abuser than to offer assistance to the victim. Students who abuse
one another find it extremely helpful to have an audience nearby, and onlookers provide this
requirement (Palmer, 2018) . On the other hand, onlookers are the ones who have the ability to
significantly cut down on bullying. When there is rejection from the audience, bullies lose their
ability to initiate conflict. If a spectator intervenes to aid, bullying will typically cease within 10
seconds of the intervention (Wilde). When a bystander witnesses bullying and does nothing to
stop it, they are sending the message that bullying is OK. It elevates that individual to the same
level as the bully.

Estimation of the Incidence of Bullying at University Levels

As a result of the behaviour, the individual who is bullied, as well as the community in which the
bullying happens, could endure a range of negative ramifications. Being a victim can result in a
variety of negative outcomes, including but not limited to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
anxiety, digestive problems, a loss of self-esteem, trouble in relationships, and abuse of
substances like alcohol and narcotics. To alleviate the mental anguish that bullying has caused, it
may take years of therapy and treatment for many of the bully's victims before they are able to
find relief from the effects of the bullying. The most extreme consequence might lead to thoughts
of suicide or even actual acts of violence in schools. It appears that chronic bullies continue their
behaviour throughout adulthood, which has a negative influence on their capacity to form and
sustain meaningful connections. The impacts of a witness who watches the bullying are generally
 7

disregarded; nonetheless, a study conducted at Brownell University found that bystanders have
greater rates of depression, anxiety, and drug misuse. [Citation needed] When a person is afraid,
it is impossible for them to learn the skills necessary for their intellectual, social, and emotional
development. When someone witnesses bullying, they typically feel dread and guilt, which can
lead to mental health problems. Regardless of the role(s) that youngsters play, the influence can
follow them throughout their entire lives, and in the worst cases, it can even take their lives. And
this is the point at which the real facts become evident. The following is one example: The
persistent bullying eventually became intolerable for Jarred, despite the fact that he was bright,
talented, and involved in both his church and extracurricular activities. Jarred contacted his
father while he was at work one morning to say goodbye, and then he shot himself while his
father listened on the other end of the phone. But Jared's best buddy, who witnessed the bullying
but did not intervene because he was afraid, lives with the guilt of not standing up for Jared
every day.

When someone is being bullied, there are a number of warning signs that may be present. Some
signs are that they are violent toward other people, that they always get in a very bad
argumentative situation with no reason so easily that they have more extra money and different
things byt can’t explain in a way.

Assaults as Punishment

According to the figures collected in 2013, bullying is a "crime" that is not going away any time
in the near future. According to the findings presented by Coelho, there are more than 3.2 million
children who fall victim to bullying on an annual basis.

Every day, there are around 160,000 adolescents who choose not to attend school out of fear of
being attacked.

56% of people have first-hand experience witnessing some form of bullying.

71% of students report having experienced some form of bullying while attending their school.

Ninety percent of students in the fourth through eighth grades say they have been victims.

Bullying is cited as the reason for the withdrawal of one out of every ten students from school.
 8

Only four percent of the time will a teacher step in to stop bullying, even if one in every four
educators finds nothing wrong with it.

Multiple thirds of kids are of the assessment that schools give a deficient reaction to harassing
and that grown-ups give help that is both intriguing and inadequate.

There is a connection between harassment and bullying and seventy-five percent of all
occurrences of school shootings.

As a form of retaliation, a kid or adolescent who has been the victim of bullying may later turn
into the aggressor themselves. One of the most powerful motivations for school shootings is the
desire to exact revenge for being bullied.

Students who suffer from a medical condition or handicap are at a greater risk of being bullied
than their peers who do not.

30 percent of kids who claim that they have been bullied have admitted that they have
occasionally brought weapons to school.

Despite being prevalent, professional researchers have given little attention to school bullying.
Despite being a concealed problem, schools may respond positively if it's framed as social
interaction. Bullying affects all aspects of its social setting. Instructors and parents are often
unaware of the extent of the bullying problem, and other students are unwilling to intervene or
don't know how to help. Awareness is the finest action. Preventive measures are preferable to
crisis management. Methods include:

Organize anti-bullying assemblies during and after school.

Students and adults can answer an introduction questionnaire. The questionnaire helps adults and
children understand the scale of the problem, justifies intervention efforts, and monitors the
impact of school environment modifications when other intervention components are
implemented.

Utilized both locally and school-wide a policy that combats bullying

The Most Recent Draft of a Bullying Framework

Verbal and physical abuse

 9

This includes physically harming someone, as well as vandalising or stealing their property. It
includes things like striking, kicking, pinching, spitting, biting, tripping, pushing, or threatening
another person; touching another person when they don't want you to; being made fearful of
getting hurt; stealing or damaging belongings; and touching another person when they don't want
you to.

Verbal bullying

Bullying amongst peers

This involves causing harm to the relationships of another person or to their reputation. It
includes things like ignoring someone on purpose or purposefully excluding them, telling others
not to be friends with someone, spreading stories about that person, and sabotaging relationships
and friendships.

It is not considered bullying if any of these many sorts of bullying behaviour occur only once or
if they are a part of a quarrel between equals, regardless of how improper the conflict may be.
The aggressive behaviour, by itself, is insufficient to qualify as bullying. When any of these
actions occur repeatedly or have the potential to occur repeatedly, this behaviour is known as
bullying.

Where exactly does bullying take place?

Bullying can take place face to face or online, when it is referred to as cyberbullying. Bullying
can also take place online. In-person bullying can take many forms, including physical, verbal,
and social; bullying can also take place online, including verbal, social, and even threats of
physical violence. It's not uncommon for children who are tormented online to also be bullied in
person.

Overt bullying occurs when the aggressive behaviour is displayed openly in front of other
people, whereas covert bullying occurs when the behaviour is kept hidden from those who are
not directly involved.

Physical activities like hitting or kicking, as well as verbal bullying like shaming or insulting, are
examples of the overt kind of bullying known as "bullying in the open."
 10

Bullying that is not obvious to others, often known as covert or hidden bullying, often occurs
while no one is around to see it. It may take the form of repetitive hand gestures, whispering, odd
or menacing stares, excluding someone, or placing restrictions on where they may sit or who
they can talk to, among other things. Sometimes the person who started it will brush it off by
saying that they were "just having fun."

The act of cyberbullying frequently goes unnoticed because it takes place on gadgets, websites,
and apps that adults are either unaware of or are unable to access. Additionally, it is simple to
conceal one's identity. Because of the rising prevalence of young people's use of digital
technology, the lines between the offline and online environments can become increasingly
blurry. Because of this, it is essential to look at other scenarios as well and to take seriously any
reports of bullying.

It is important to keep in mind that bullying can even occur between close friends. Some children
and young adults may be reluctant to seek treatment because of their attachment to their
friendships or the confusion that comes with having friendships that come and go.

Increased Supervision in Bullying in USA

The majority of states have passed legislation that prohibit bullying, intimidation, and
harassment in the educational setting. Anti-bullying laws improve school safety, cut down on
students skipping school, and lower overall school violence. Schools are required to develop
anti-bullying policies, provide appropriate training, and rigorously implement such rules. Anti-
bullying policy violators face suspension and expulsion. Lawsuits can cost schools and districts a
lot of money. A 14-year-old girl was verbally abused, groped inappropriately, pushed and
assaulted, and had her homework stolen over a three-year period. The parents and child
complained to the instructor and administration, but they just talked to the bullies. They sued and
won $220,000. Hopefully this wakes up the administration. Proactively stopping the behaviour
before it becomes dangerous is cheaper physically and financially (Stuart¸2008).

North Carolina requires schools to avoid bullying. Individual systems may be accountable for
failing to address bullying and harassment (Stuart, 2008). All North Carolina students should
learn in a safe atmosphere. Schools might be held accountable for unsupervised injuries. If a
school district's indifference is unreasonable, it can be sued. Reasonable action is needed.
 11

Schools or their personnel also fail to adequately address bullying. The school must take
measures for negligent supervision.

Conclusion
Very few teachers have received training on the last feature. They don't know any processes and
have no experience handling diverse circumstances. Federal subsidies for harassment/bullying
training are few.

According to the Policy for the Public Schools of Robeson County in 2012, "Whoever receives a
complaint of discrimination, harassment, or bullying must immediately notify the proper
investigator." (Whoever receives a complaint of discrimination, harassment, or bullying must
immediately notify the proper investigator.) This investigator is responsible for determining
whether or not the activity breaches the board's policy. The document states that the investigator
is required to interview the complainant, the alleged offender, and any other people who may be
relevant. Within the next two weeks, a written report will be delivered to both the superintendent
and the complaint. The offender will get a written report of the results as well as disciplinary
action (Terry, 2018).

The implementation of strict no-tolerance rules in schools by future teachers may contribute to
the reduction of bullying. At the beginning of the school year, make it clear to the students that
any form of bullying will not be allowed and will result in consistent repercussions. It could be
helpful to have activities in the school on acceptance and differences in order to demonstrate to
children that everyone has their own distinct qualities. The education of parents is yet another
crucial step that must be taken. The primary influence on children comes from their parents. It is
important for parents to take an active role in both their children's academic and social life.

Most schools have bullying-victim issues. Schools must oppose bullying. Bullies must be
punished, children must know. Role-playing helps educate schools anti-bullying conduct.
Schools should teach kids about volunteer opportunities. They need grownups to teach them to
stand up for what's right and not tattle. Bullying is dangerous and wrong, and kids need to know
they're not alone. When one person brings a problem to light, others quickly join in.
 12

Bullying hinders pupils' intellectual and social advancement. All students must study in a secure
and fear-free atmosphere through a comprehensive intervention plan involving students, parents,
and school staff. Our kids deserve a safe classroom. Educators must supply this. (Terry, 2018).
 13

References

Bork-Hüffer, T., Mahlknecht, B., & Kaufmann, K. (2021). (Cyber) Bullying in schools–when
bullying stretches across cON/FFlating spaces. Children's Geographies, 19(2), 241-253.

Goodwin, J., Bradley, S. K., Donohoe, P., Queen, K., O’Shea, M., & Horgan, A. (2019).
Bullying in schools: an evaluation of the use of drama in bullying prevention. Journal of
Creativity in Mental Health, 14(3), 329-342.

Harger, Brent (2016). "You Say Bully, I Say Bullied: School Culture and Definitions of Bullying
in Two Elementary Schools." Education and Youth Today. Ed. Yasemin Besen-Cassino and
Loretta E. Bass (Sociological Studies of Children and Youth, Volume 20) Emerald Group
Publishing Limited, 2016. 91 – 121.

Loui, Kenny (2017). Stand By Me: The Effects of a Police Anti-Bullying Presentation on South
Korean High School Students' Attitudes About Bullying and Willingness to Intervene. Nova
Southeastern University Fischler College of Education. - PhD dissertation - Info page

Moyano, N., & del Mar Sánchez-Fuentes, M. (2020). Homophobic bullying at schools: A
systematic review of research, prevalence, school-related predictors and consequences.
Aggression and violent behavior, 53, 101441.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (2016). Rivara, Frederick; Suzanne,
Le Menestrel (eds.). Preventing Bullying Through Science, Policy, and Practice. National
Academies Press. doi:10.17226/23482. ISBN 978-0-309-44067-7. PMID 27748087. open access

Orue, I., & Calvete, E. (2018). Homophobic bullying in schools: The role of homophobic
attitudes and exposure to homophobic aggression. School psychology review, 47(1), 95-105.

Palmer, S. B., & Abbott, N. (2018). Bystander responses to bias‐based bullying in schools: A
developmental intergroup approach. Child Development Perspectives, 12(1), 39-44.

Stuart W. Twemlow, Frank Sacco (2008). Why School Antibullying Programs Don't Work.
Jason Aronson Inc, ISBN 978-0-7657-0475-7
 14

Terry, A. (2018). The impact of state legislation and model policies on bullying in schools.
Journal of school health, 88(4), 289-295.