Bullying

Based on Merriam Webster Dictionary, bullying is defined as abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, more powerful, etc. the actions and behavior of a bully. The behavior is often repeated and habitual.

What is bullying?

There are four types of bullying:
1. Verbal bullying is saying or written mean things. Verbal bullying includes:
 teasing
 name-calling
 inappropriate sexual comments
 taunting
 threatening to cause harm

2. Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Social bullying includes:
 leaving someone out on purpose
 telling other children not to be friends with someone
 spreading rumors about someone
 embarrassing someone in public

3. Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions. Physical bullying includes:
 Hitting/kicking/pinching
 Tripping/pushing
 Taking or breaking someone’s things
 Making mean or rude hand gestures
4. Cyber-bullying is the use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person. When an adult is involved, it may meet the definition of cyber-harassment or cyber stalking, a crime that can have legal consequences and involve jail time. This includes email, instant messaging, social networking sites, text messages, and cell phones.

Where and When Bullying Happens
Bullying can occur during or after school hours. While most reported bull ying happens in the school building, a significant percentage also happens in places like on the playground or the bus. It can also happen travelling to or from school, in the youth’s neighborhood, or on the Internet.
Bullying can affect everyone—those who are bullied, those who bully, and those who witness bullying. Bullying is linked to many negative outcomes including impacts on mental health, substance use, and suicide. It is important to talk to kids to determine whether bullying—or something else—is a concern.

Effects of Bullying

Kids who are bullied
Kids who are bullied can experience negative physical, school, and mental health issues. Kids who are bullied are more likely to experience:
• Depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. These issues may persist into adulthood.
• Health complaints
• Decreased academic achievement—GPA and standardized test scores—and school participation. They are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school.
A very small number of bullied children might retaliate through extremely violent measures. In 12 of 15 school shooting cases in the 1990s, the shooters had a history of being bullied.
Kids Who Bully Others
Kids who bully others can also engage in violent and other risky behaviors into adulthood. Kids who bully are more likely to:
• Abuse alcohol and other drugs in adolescence and as adults
• Get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school
• Engage in early sexual activity
• Have criminal convictions and traffic citations as adults
• Be abusive toward their romantic partners, spouses, or children as adults

Bystanders
Kids who witness bullying are more likely to:
• Have increased use of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs
• Have increased mental health problems, including depression and anxiety
• Miss or skip school

How to stand up to bullies?

Confronting a bully

1. Look them in the eye and tell them to stop.
If a bully is getting in your face, put your hand out like a crossing-guard, creating a barrier between you and the bully. Look them in the eye and say, calmly but firmly, “I want you to stop right now.”
If they continue encroaching on your territory or continue mocking you in some way, simply repeat your sentence. “Stop. I want you to stop right now. Stop.” Don't say or do anything else but hold your ground and repeat yourself.

2. Learn how bullies think.
Bullies tend to pick on those who they identify as being unwilling or unable to stand up for themselves. Bullies choose easy targets to “test” by needling with words and actions. The quickest and best way to end bullying is to stand up for you and tell the bully firmly to stop and repeat the action until they comply.
Negotiating, trying to befriend, or showing that it bothers you will give them more ammunition and make it worse. Don't whine, try not to cry, and stay firm. They'll get bored and lose interest when you stand up for yourself and don't give them anything to bully. There's nothing funny to say about “Stop.” There's nothing to mock in someone who is confident.

3. Defend yourself with smarts.
Don't allow yourself to get trapped into an insult-exchange with a bully. You'll almost always lose any kind of verbal head-to-head, even if you're wittier, funnier, and smarter (which you are). Bullies rig the game. Don't try to come up with better come-backs and cutting insults, which can do more to make it worse.
Don't play the bullying game. Don't give them more ammunition. Tell them to stop, stand tall, and give them a target they'll be uninterested in.