What is bullying?
Bullying is a form of repeated, negative behavior aimed at individuals or groups with a power imbalance between the bully and the victim. Bullying can occur in various contexts, including schools, workplaces, online and in society in general. This behavior can take many forms, including verbal, physical, emotional and social harassment.
Some common examples of bullying behavior include:
- Verbal bullying: This involves the use of insults, mockery, derogatory comments and threats to damage a person’s self-esteem and reputation.
- Physical bullying: This includes physical violence or harassment, such as hitting, kicking, pushing or using physical objects to hurt someone.
- Social bullying: This includes isolating a person, spreading rumours, banning them from social events, or otherwise manipulating their relationships to cause emotional harm.
- Cyberbullying: This is bullying that takes place online through social media, e-mail, text messages and other digital communication channels. Cyberbullying can include harassment, bullying, spreading unfavorable images or rumors, and more.
Consequences of bullying
Bullying can have serious consequences for victims, including mental and physical health problems, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and in some cases, suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts. It is therefore important to prevent bullying and intervene early when it occurs.
Many countries have laws and guidelines to protect individuals from bullying, especially in school and work environments. There are also campaigns and programs that aim to raise awareness of bullying and promote inclusion and empathy among people to combat this unwanted behaviour.
