Bullying Information and Facts
Underlying Causes...
Why does bullying happen?
The aggressor has a need to feel more powerful and in control
The target doesn’t feel very sure of themselves, is concerned about how they are being perceived, or is an extreme minority
The bystanders feel immobilized and afraid to intervene
Adults either aren’t paying attention, aren’t intervening when they see the behavior, and/or they don’t follow through or aren’t consistent in their responses.
The culture supports and promotes getting needs met through violence.
Types of Bullying:
Bullying is a disrespectful behavior that is intentional and aggressive. Bullying is more than a disagreement and can be:
Physical – hitting, kicking, spitting, pushing, taking personal belongings
Verbal – taunting, teasing, name calling, gossiping, making threats
Social – spreading rumors, manipulating, excluding/isolating, intimidation, interfering with the friendships of others, cyberbullying, sexting.
How Does Bullying Impact Children?
Children and youth who are bullied tend to have more headaches, sleeping problems, and stomach aches than children who are not bullied. They also have higher rates of moderate depression and thoughts of suicide than kids who aren’t bullied.
As children who are involved in bullying behavior grow up, they tend to commit more crimes, report higher rates of alcoholism and commit more spousal abuse than those who did not bully others when they were younger.
Why does bullying happen?
The aggressor has a need to feel more powerful and in control
The target doesn’t feel very sure of themselves, is concerned about how they are being perceived, or is an extreme minority
The bystanders feel immobilized and afraid to intervene
Adults either aren’t paying attention, aren’t intervening when they see the behavior, and/or they don’t follow through or aren’t consistent in their responses.
The culture supports and promotes getting needs met through violence.
Differences Between Conflict and Bullying...
Normal Conflict | Equal power | Happens occasionally | Accidental | Not serious | Equal emotional reaction | Not seeking power or attention | Not trying to get something | Remorse – takes responsibility | Effort to solve the problem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bullying | Imbalance of power | Repeated negative actions | Purposeful | Serious – threat of physical harm or emotional or psychological hurt | Strong emotional reaction on part of the target | Seeking power and control | Trying to gain material things or power | No remorse – blames target | No effort to solve the problem |
Impact of Bullying...
Bullying was once considered a simple, harmless rite of childhood experienced by many students. Today, research shows that bullying has significant short- and long-term effects that impact education, health and safety.
Education – Bullying can negatively impact a child’s access to education and lead to:
School avoidance and higher rates of absenteeism
Decrease in grades
Inability to concentrate
Loss of interest in academic achievement
Increase in dropout rates
Health – Bullying can also lead to physical and mental health problems, including:
Headaches and stomachaches
Sleeping problems
Low self-esteem
Increased fear or anxiety
Depression
Post traumatic stress
Safety – Bullying also impacts student sense of well-being, such as:
Self-isolation
Increased aggression
Self-harm and suicidal ideation
Feeling of alienation at school
Fear of other students
Retaliation
New Federal Website
In 2009, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services joined forces with four other departments to create a federal task force on bullying. In August 2010, the task force staged the first ever National Bullying Summit, bringing together 50 top state, local, civic, and corporate leaders to begin mapping out a national plan to end bullying. The task force also launched a new website, www.bullyinginfo.org, which brings all the federal resources on bullying together in one place of the first time ever.