Bullying Awareness and Prevention Guide

Harry Southworth a freelance writer who focuses on articles on education and students’ life, shared with Healthy Lombard that Bullying has always been a serious problem due to the negative impact on both a victim and a bully. Children and teenagers are especially prone to this harmful experience because they are still developing their understanding and attitude towards the world and cases of constant humiliating, isolation, or physical aggression can lead to severe psychological problems in the future. The power over other people that bullies feel may also inevitably change their personalities and prevent them from developing adequate relationships with other people in general. That is why this issue needs to be addressed as soon as it emerges.

What is Bullying?

Basically, this is the term that includes various behaviors of a person intended to frighten or even hurt another person who usually could not resist the pressure and might be forced to do things he or she did not want.

Bullying may take various forms so that children, parents, and educators must be aware of the possible embodiments of this phenomenon:

• Physical bullying. As its name suggests, it involves physical aggression of a bully over the victim, such as hitting, kicking, or destruction of one’s belongings. Usually, this form is chosen by male bullies who pick a weaker or younger target and demonstrate their power in this way.
• Sexual Bullying. While being a form of physical bullying it is much more harmful as intimidation and offenses of sexual nature may irreversibly affect a person’s ability to develop positive relationships. What is more, there were multiple suicide cases as teenagers, while already possessing the developed sexuality, are still emotionally unstable at times.
• Verbal Bullying. Insulting the victim or making hurtful comments related to his or her appearance, racial, religious or sexual belonging may be as harmful as physical aggression. The only difference that the bully uses only words to gain power over the victim.
• Relational/Social Bullying. The victim’s social life, which is a very meaningful part of children’s and teenagers’ lives, is being the target when this form of bullying is used. Neglect, exclusion, spreading gossips and other unpleasant activities are used to isolate the victim from friends and, as a result, the society in general.
• Cyberbullying. The modern world with its abundance of electronic means of communication provides more opportunities for bullies to hurt their victims. Sending personal hurtful messages appears to be the least harmful variant as the victim’s personal information can be spread online for a myriad of people to see. What is more, cyberbullying may occur at any time as it is not linked to a certain location, such as school.

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