Bullying is a pattern of aggressive behavior intended to make others uncomfortable, scared or hurt. Bullies behave this way to get control. They feel a sense of power from taking advantage of and degrading those they target. Bullying is serious. Whether obvious or secretive, the results are the same. Types of Bullying: 1. Physical - a person is harmed or their property is damaged 2. Verbal – a person’s feelings are hurt through insults 3. Social – a person is shunned or excluded from groups and events 4. Cyber - using the internet, mobile devices or other digital technology to harm others What Can Bullying Behavior Look Like? · Aggressive attitude and dominate behavior toward others · Secretive and difficult to approach · Evidence of vandalism or damaging someone’s property · Constantly telling lies about his/her behavior or school work · When questioned, the child justifies the inappropriate behavior, often refusing to admit to doing anything wrong or accepting blame · If they admit wrongdoing, there is not real remorse or sense of empathy · Appears to enjoy hurting others and seeing them suffer, viewing weaker as easy prey · Tells stories or makes malicious remarks (blames, criticizes, and false allegation) about others that are untrue in order to get them into trouble · Other children are intimidated by being nervous or silent in the particular child’s presence · Has changed friends and demonstrates more aggressive and deviant behaviors · Other children tell lies to protect a particular child · Likes to use others to get what they want · Spreading rumors, gossip or excluding someone from a group · Sending harmful texts or emails · Writing threatening words/graffiti · Uses Racial or homophobic slurs
What Can a Bullying Victim Look Like?
· Unhappiness in school, sometimes resulting in chronic absences, tardiness · Feeling apprehensive, leaving school while taking unusual routes home. · Complaining about feeling sick in the mornings without visible physical signs · Has stomachaches, headaches, panic attacks, or unexplained injuries · Deteriorating work habits in school · Becoming upset or emotional for the smallest reason (We may think it is small) · Cuts or bruises on the body where the explanations are not really credible · Reluctant to go out to play/interact with peers · Being unusually negative about issues · Making comments and statements that downgrade oneself · Cannot account for school books, clothing, or whereabouts · Becomes uneasy or upset when certain peers names at school are mentioned · Is reluctant in talking about anything being wrong
NOTE: Please remember that a child who is being bullied can be afraid to discuss this due to them feeling that the bully will further harm them if they find out that they have told someone.Please inform the counselor’s, who will intervene to further assess the case. Bullying is always unacceptable.