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Part I: Bullying – signs that someone is a bully or is being bullied
Credit: Megehee
by Joseph Earnest August 3, 2011
Newscast Media HOUSTON, Texas -- Bullying has sparked recent public health and media attention and is defined as physical or psychological aggression repeatedly directed toward another student who is perceived by the aggressor as weaker and less powerful than himself or herself. Systematic international research has shown school bullying to be a frequent and serious public health problem. But psychologists are using this research to develop bullying prevention programs that are being implemented in schools around the world.
Bully-proof your child for life video
In his 1993 book, Bullying at school: What we know and what we can do, Dr. Olweus identifies characteristics of students who are most likely to be bullies and those that are most likely to be victims of bullying. Bullies tend to exhibit the following characteristics:
- They have a strong need to dominate and subdue other students and to get their own way
- Are impulsive and are easily angered.
- Are often defiant and aggressive toward adults, including parents and teachers.
- Show little empathy toward students who are victimized.
- If they are boys, they are physically stronger than boys in general.
The typical passive or submissive victims, according to Olweus' research, generally have some of the following characteristics:
- Are cautious, sensitive, quiet, withdrawn and shy.
- Are often anxious, insecure, unhappy and have low self-esteem.
- Are depressed and engage in suicidal ideation much more often than their peers.
- Often do not have a single good friend and relate better to adults than to peers.
- If they are boys, they may be physically weaker than their peers.
The U.S Department of Health has also come out with a list of warning signs for parents and educators to look for. There are many warning signs that could indicate that someone is involved in bullying, either by bullying others or by being bullied. However, these warning signs may indicate other issues or problems, as well.
Signs that someone is being bullied
- Comes home with damaged or missing clothing or other belongings
- Reports losing items such as books, electronics, clothing, or jewelry
- Has unexplained injuries
- Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches, or feeling sick
- Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
- Has changes in eating habits
- Hurts him or herself
- Are very hungry after school from not eating their lunch
- Runs away from home
- Loses interest in visiting or talking with friends
- Is afraid of going to school or other activities with peers
- Loses interest in school work or begins to do poorly in school
- Appears sad, moody, angry, anxious or depressed when they come home
- Talks about suicide
- Feels helpless
- Often feels like they are not good enough
- Blames themselves for their problems
- Suddenly has fewer friends
- Avoids certain places
- Acts differently than usual
Sign that someone is bullying others
- Becomes violent with others
- Gets into physical or verbal fights with others
- Gets sent to the principal’s office or detention a lot
- Has extra money or new belongings that cannot be explained
- Is quick to blame others
- Will not accept responsibility for their actions
- Has friends who bully others
- Needs to win or be best at everything
A study from the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine conducted research on 1,491 participants between 18 – 24 years of age. Over 25 percent were exposed to intimate-partner violence (IPV), while 43.6 percent experienced physical child abuse, and 20.5 percent experienced sexual child abuse. Frequent exposure to community violence was reported by 14.1percent of the sample; over half the sample reported occasional exposure to community violence (56 percent).
The research suggests that individuals who are likely to perpetrate abusive behaviors against others may do so across childhood and into adulthood. Furthermore, these abusive behaviors—bullying peers in school and perpetrating violence against an intimate partner—may co-occur within individuals. Click here to continue to Part II - How to overcome being bullied >>
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