What is Bullying?
If you think the scenarios are exaggerated, let me assure you they are not. These kinds of violent, virulent bullying assaults are becoming quite common nowadays, and they are happening all over the world. In this article, we will discuss in detail about ” Bullying“.
Bullying in schools is such a common menace that estimates are that 1 in 3 students have experienced it in some form or the other. With the availability of technology, the problem has only become more complicated. Ragging in colleges is just an extension of the same problem.
Bullying Meaning
It is intentional abuse or aggression against an individual by one or more peers. This type of abuse may be physical or emotional. It can happen in person or the anonymity of cyberspace. It can be by a single individual or by a group of individuals.
This damaging aggressive behavior is repetitive, unprovoked, and involves a power imbalance (stronger aggressor, weaker victim).
Bullying in School
Physical bullying can take the form of pushing, punching, pinching, kicking, hitting with objects, spitting or tripping.
Emotional bullying occurs as insults, verbal abuse, teasing, name-calling, rumor-mongering, and isolating the individual
Sometimes it can take the form of damaging or stealing the victim’s belongings (schoolbag, books, money, etc.).
The usual times for bullying are before school activities begin, during recess after the school disperses, and on the school bus. The common places for bullying are areas just outside the school’s compound, the school bus, corridors, playgrounds, or toilets.
What is Cyber-Bullying?
With the advent of gadgets and the Internet, bullying has found new locations and methods in cyberspace. Text messages, multimedia messages, chats, or social network posts on mobile phones, computers, or other gadgets have become popular ways to abuse others. Many times, cyberbullies hide their identity by using pseudonyms.
Signs in a Victim
The victim child of bullying may not talk to parents about it. You hold watch for these common signs of this in victims.
- Repeated unexplained or poorly explained injuries or bruises
- Social withdrawal
- Falling attendance or school performance
- Unexplained headaches or stomach aches
- Inability to sleep, disturbed sleep, or frequent nightmares.
Damage
Physical injury is an important and immediate danger of this, but emotional scarring is perhaps an even greater and longer-term problem.
Bullied individuals are prone to anger, frustration, loneliness, depression, ‘acting out’ aggression, and poor peer and family relationships.
Typical bully and victim
It would help if you kept in mind these typical characteristics of a bullying aggressor.
- Physically taller and better than children of the same age
- Tendency to aggressive behavior
- Preference for violence on playgrounds, television, or computer games
- Poor academic record, failures, and expulsions
- Skirmishes with teachers
- Abusive or permissive home environment
- Part of a group with similar individuals.
- The typical bullying victim possesses some common characteristics. These are explained below.:
- Shorter and weaker than children of the same age
- Physical or mental impairment
- Shy personality
- Belonging to a minority group by race, religion, language, or sexual orientation
- Single parents or unconcerned parents
- Uncomfortable, unsure, or unconvinced about sharing experiences or seeking help from authorities.
Stop Bullying
To manage it, we must first become aware that bullying is a serious and common problem. We have to identify and rectify that.
We must remain alert to spot this activity at the earliest. When it is observed, we must act immediately to stop the offenders and protect the victims.
Schools and colleges should establish an official anti-bullying program involving teachers, parents, and student representatives. Early education about this, compassionate communication, strict guidelines, zero tolerance, and quick enforcement are key requirements for such a program to succeed.
The government could help by putting in place legal measures to enable action against offenders.