Bullying

           Bullying is when someone’s behavior is to make someone else feel inadequate, or to focus on belittling someone else. Bullying includes harassment, physical harm, repeatedly demeaning speech, and efforts to ostracize another person. According to statistics from Family First Aid, about 30% of teenagers in the United States have been involved in bullying. Also, younger teens are more likely to be involved in bullying than older teenagers.

Types of Bullying

There are different types of bullying which include physical bullying, verbal bullying, emotional bullying, and cyber bullying. Physical bullying is when the bully attempts to physically dominate another person. This can include kicking, punching, or other harmful activities to instill fear in the victim. Cyber bullying is a problem among some teenagers. This type of bullying is often what boys tend to favor. Verbal bullying is when someone uses demeaning language to tear down someone else. Bullies using this technique excessively tease others, say belittling things and use sarcasm to humiliate their victim in front of peers. Emotional bullying is more subtle than other types of bullying. This type of bullying is to make someone feel isolated or alone. Teenage girls often favor emotional or verbal bullying. Cyber bullying is becoming a big issue for teenagers. Cyber bullies use instant messaging, cell phone text messages, and online social networks to humiliate and embarrass others.

Effects of Bullying

There are many problems that are caused by bullying which can be seen in the victim’s future. Physical bullying can cause physical problems or injuries.  All bullying can deeply affect the victims by causing depression, drug use, and stunted social development. In some cases teens may also think about retaliation and want to attack those who bullied them.

Reducing Bullying

In order to reduce bullying, teens should be encouraged to seek friends, in person and online, who are supportive and caring. It is also important to be in a group because bullies often single out the people who are alone. It is important to have teachers or other adults to talk to bullies about appropriate behavior. The best thing that can be done for bullying victims is to make sure they are being encouraged and to help them get through their difficult time.

Prevention

            Some suggestions to address the prevention of bullying is by providing consequences for bullies to let them know that the behavior is not tolerated, giving bullies outlets and behavioral suggestions so they can channel their behavior in different ways, and by helping potential victims avoid becoming the victims of bullying behavior. Other ways to help with preventing bullying is by supervision and appropriate intervention when bullying is in progress, to teach appropriate assertiveness to those who are or may be targets of bullying.  If your child is a victim of bullying, make sure that a report is made and that the report is dealt with in a timely manner.

-Tiffany

Reference:

http://www.bullyingstatistics.org