Bullying

Fact or Myth
 Nothing can be done at
school to reduce bullying
School initiative to prevent
and stop bullying have
reduced bullying by 15 to 50
percent. The most
successful initiatives involve Myth
the entire school community
of teachers, staff, parents,
students and community
members
Only Boys Bully
People think that physical
bullying by boys is the most
common form of bullying.
However, verbal, social and
physical bullying happens
Myth
among both boys and girls,
especially as they grow
older.
People who bully have power
over those they bully
• People who bully others
usually pick on those
who have less social
power (popularity),
psychological power
(know how to harm Fact
others) or physical power
(size, strength)
• Although sometimes
those who bully have
been bullied by others
All kids will outgrow bullying
• For some, bullying continues
as they become older. Unless
someone intervenes, the
bullying will likely continue
and, in some cases, grow into
violence and other serious
problems. Myth
• Children who consistently
bully others often continue
their aggressive behavior
through adolescence and into
adulthood.
People who bully are insecure
and have low self-esteem
• Many people who bully are
popular and have average or
better than average self-esteem.
• They often take pride in their
aggressive behavior and control

•
over the people they bully.
People who bully may be part of a
Myth
group that thinks bullying is okay.
Some people who bully may also
have poor social skills and
experience anxiety or depression.
For them bullying can be a way to
gain social status.
Spreading rumors is a form of
bullying
• Spreading rumors,
name calling,
excluding others
and embarrassing
them are all forms of
Fact
social bullying that
can cause serious
and lasting harm
Bullying often resolves itself
when you ignore it
• Bullying reflects an
imbalance of power that
happens again and again.
Ignoring the bullying
teaches students who bully
that they can bully others Myth
without consequences.
Adults and other students
need to stand up for
children who are bullied,
and to ensure they are
protected and safe.
Bullying usually occurs when
there are no other students
around
• Students see about four out of
every five bullying incidents at
school. In fact, when they
witness bullying, they give the
student who is bullying
positive attention or even join
in about three-quarters of the
Myth
time. Although 9 out of 10
students say there is bullying
in their schools, adults rarely
see bullying, even if they are
looking for it.
Parents are usually aware that
their children are bullying
others
• Parents play a critical
role in bullying
prevention, but they
often do not know if their
children bully or are
bullied by others. To help
Myth
prevent bullying, parents
need to talk with their
children about what is
happening at school and
in the community.
Teachers often intervene to
stop bullying
• Adults often do not
witness bullying
despite their good
intentions. Teachers
intervene in only 14 Myth
percent of classroom
bullying episodes and
in 4 percent of
bullying incidents
that happen outside
the classroom.
Reporting bullying will make
the situation worse
• Research shows that
children who report
bullying to an adult
are less likely to
experience bullying in Myth
the future. Adults
should encourage
children to help keep
their school safe and
to tell an adult when
they see bullying.
There is just one type of
bulling
 There are several
types of bullying
including:
• Physical Bullying Myth
• Verbal Bullying
• Cyberbullying
 What is Bullying?

Bullying is any ongoing physical or

(Loweu 1986, 1991 and 1993)

Teachers notice and intervene in

Occurs at least 2 – 3 times per

Debra Pepler, Ph.D., York University

Verbal Physical
Insults, putdowns, Shoves, pushes,
teasing, harassment hitting, assault

Psychological
Rolling eyes, dirty looks, uttering threats, extortion
 Bullying can be:
INDIRECT
Behind someone’s back

Exclusion Relational Aggression

Gossip
Lowering people’s opinion
About the victim
 What is Bullying?
It involves a power imbalance between
Bully and Victim: Number, Size, Status,
Role, Culture, Ethnicity.
 Characteristics of a bully
 High self-esteem
 May be popular
 More likely to engage in other problem
behaviors later in life, such as criminal
activity or alcohol or other drug abuse
 Characteristics of Victims
Passive
 Quiet, anxious & insecure
 Tend to “normalize” and no longer are victims upon
entering adulthood, though they may have continued
lower self-esteem and be more prone to depression

Provocative
 Reactive, clumsy, impulsive, irritating
 Attempt to fight or answer back when
attacked, but not effectively
 Often hyperactive, have difficulty
concentrating and act in ways that irritate
others
 Bullying is violence
Violence is any mean
word, look, sign, or act
that hurts a person’s
body, feelings, or
things.
71% of school
shooters had
been victims of
bullying.
 Bully Defender of the Victim
Starts the bullying and takes Dislikes the bullying and
an active part helps or tries to help the
victim
Follower/Henchman
Takes an active part, but
does not start the
bullying Possible Defender
Dislikes the bullying and
Supporter thinks he ought to help
Supports the bullying but but doesn’t
does not take an active part

Passive Supporter
(Possible Bully) Disengaged Onlooker
Likes the bullying but does not
display open support
 Enabling
is unwittingly protecting a person from the consequences
of their actions out of a sense of love, compassion, fear,
or survival instinct
Entitlement
is the belief that it is our right to use violence or threats of
violence to express feelings, meet needs, or satisfy
wants.
Tolerance
occurs when violence is accepted as the norm by adults or
young people who ignore, rationalize, or minimize incidents
of violence.
How far should things go before
bullying behavior is addressed?
Bullying behaviors should be
addressed before it interferes
with the health, academics or
learning process of a student.
 There are several
types of bullying
including:
• Physical Bullying Myth
• Verbal Bullying
• Cyberbullying
Physical Bullying
• Physical
bullies use
force and
body strength
to overpower
their victims.
Physical Bullying

• Physical bullying
can include
kicking, hitting,
punching, or
other physical
attacks.
Physical Bullying
• This type of
bullying is
easier to
observe than
others.
 • Verbal
Verbal Bullying bullies
intimidate
and harm
their
victims
using
words.
 • Verbal
Verbal Bullying bullying
includes the
use of
relentless
insults and
teasing and
may include
making fun
of a peer’s
lack of
physical
capabilities,
appearance,
etc.
Verbal Bullying • This type of
bullying
may go
unnoticed
and
unreported
for long
periods of
time.
Cyberbullying • Cyber bullies
use
electronic
forums, such
as email, cell
phones, and
social
networking
sites, to
harass their
victims.
 • Cyber
Cyberbullying bullying
allows the
bully to
remain
anonymous.
It is easier to
bully in
cyberspace
than it is to
bully face to
face.
 • Over 25%
Cyberbullying of
adolescent
s and
teens have
been
bullied
repeatedly
through
their cell
phones or
the
Internet.
 What can our school do to
take a stand against bulling?
 Peer Mediation is not Effective
in Situations of Bullying.
1. Bullying is not a conflict, but is abuse.
2. There is not a question of “some right” and
“some wrong” on both sides.
3. The “playing field” or balance of power, is not
level.
4. Adults need to claim responsibility.

© The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2001