Bullying

How Bullying impacts our friends, family and classmates.

SERVE Social Emotional Recreational Vocational Education

The Challenge and Facts of Bullying Every year, 3 million young people

in the United States fall victim to crimes at school..

An estimated 1.6 million students miss school each day due to fear of attack or intimidation from peers.

Over two-thirds of students believe that schools respond poorly to bullying, with a high percentage of students believing that adult help is infrequent and ineffective. (you must talk to teachers, counselors or administrators.)

Membership in either bully or victim groups is associated with school drop out, poor psychosocial adjustment, criminal activity and other negative long-term consequences.

What is Bullying? Definition:

Bullying is a pattern of deliberate, negative, hurtful, aggressive acts that work to shift the balance of physical, emotional or social power and they may cause injury, discomfort, fear, and suffering to the victim

Types Physical violence and

attacks Verbal taunts, name-calling,

and put downs Threats and intimidation Extortion or stealing of

money/possessions Exclusion from peer group Ethnically/Gender based

abuse/put downs

Characteristics Bully

Sociable Assertive Popular among

peers Aggressive

Victim Submissive Withdrawn Cooperative Rejected among

peers

Boys victims of bullying VS. Girls victims of bullying.Boys:

Characteristics: Intimidation Control Humiliation Power domination Threats to one’s safety

Tactics Name calling Physical attacks

Pushing Shoving Kicking Spitting

Extortion (money/possessions)

Defacing victim’s property Repeated physical attacks Inappropriate sexual

behavior

Boys victims of bullying VS. Girls victims of bullying. Girls

Characteristics: Social cruelty Manipulation Hurt feeling Subtle rejection

Tactics Name calling Isolating the victim Ethnic slurs spreading

false rumors

Why do some children and adolescents become bullies? Family Factors:

The frequency and severity of bullying is related to the amount of adult supervision that children receive, bullying behavior is reinforced when it has no or inconsistent consequences

School Factors: Because school personnel are finding themselves more and more

overwhelmed with the bullying situation, they are unable to manage it all as well their increasingly demanding job duties as educators. (Educators= campus supervisors, teachers, aides, nurses, counselors, bus drivers etc.)

Peer Group Factors: Children may interact in a school or neighborhood peer group that

advocates, supports or promotes bullying behavior. Some children may support bully in peers in an effort to “fit in,” even though they may be uncomfortable with the behavior.

Why do some children and adolescents become victims? Victims signal to others that they are insecure,

primarily passive and will not retaliate if they are attacked. Consequently, bullies often target children who complain, appear physically or emotionally weak and seek attention from peers.

Studies show that victims have a higher prevalence of overprotective parents or school personnel; as a result, they often fail to develop their own coping skills.

Many victims link them for approval; even being rejected, some continue to make ineffective attempts to interact with the victimizer.

How can bullying lead to violence Bullies have a lack of respect for others’ basic

human rights; they are more likely to resort to violence to solve problems without worry of the potential implications.

Both bullies and victims show higher rates of fighting than their peers, this happens because they want to fit-in.

Recent school shootings show how victims’ frustration with bullying can turn into vengeful violence

Consequences of Bulling (victims & bullies) The Bully

Fights Theft Vandalism

Drunkenness They are 5 to 6 times

more likely to have serious criminal records by young adulthood

The Victim Physical harm Depression, poor self-

esteem, and other mental health problems as adults

Fear of using school property (bus, restrooms, and locker rooms)

Drop out of school/change school

Attempt suicide Seek revenge 71% of school shooters

were victims of bullying

Helpful Suggestions Victim

Leave the situation Ignore the bully’s behavior

(ignore them) Request that the bully stop

then walk away Protect self by talking to

adults Use sense of humor Spend time in groups

practice, what to say in front of a mirror or friends

Bystander Request that the bully

stop Seek adult help if he

bully does not stop Speak up and/or offer

support to the victim Take the bully aside

and ask him or her to “cool it”