Bullying Prevention injury or discomfort upon another person, through Every day children attending physical contact, through words Georgia schools, participating in or in other ways.” after school, or other school or community based activities Bullying may take many forms experience the ugliness of including physical, verbal, bullying. Studies have shown emotional or sexual behaviors. that 30% of youth in the United Bullying can be considered as States are either bullies or intentional, repeated hurtful victims of bullies, or both. acts, words or other behaviors such as name calling, Unfortunately, bullying behavior threatening and even shunning as a social norm has become far or demeaning that is committed too accepting by both youth and by one or more children or adults. persons against another. It is important to note that bullying Research has shown that is not provocated by the bullying on the part of the behavior of the victim as perpetrator and the victim leads bullying connotes an imbalance to more bullying, retaliation, or perceived imbalance of power violence and serves as a between the bully and the precursor to the onset of mental victim. disorders and substance use. The earlier the bullying behavior Forms of Bullying or victimization, the earlier the onset of disorders and attempts Physical Bullying: punching, to medicate the anxieties and hitting, poking, beating, kicking, trauma caused by bullying. pinching, shoving, choking, strangling, pulling or mangling Bullying Defined of the hair, biting, tying up and excessive tickling. Physical Norwegian researcher Dan bullying also includes making Olweus, creator of an evidence- someone swallow, inhale or based bullying prevention otherwise ingest a substance, program know as Olweus item or food; taking money, Bullying Prevention, defines clothing or other personal bullying as “when a person is items; being made to carry exposed, repeatedly and over heavy loads or standing in time to negative actions on the awkward positions for long part of one or more other periods of time upon threat of persons.” He further defines beating or some other form of “negative action” as “when a humiliation. person intentionally inflicts 1 Verbal Bullying: name calling, their children are doing when teasing, gossiping, taunting, they are online and using their verbal threats, public chastising mobile phones. and cajoling; spreading rumors and sending threatening and It is essential to note that intimidating messages via email bullying also occurs under the or text messaging. guise of other terms and behaviors accompanying some Emotional Bullying: social activities such as sports extortion/blackmailing, and recreation. These are more defaming, manipulation, subtle and characterized as isolation and rejection; hazing; team building and “toughening terrorizing with threats or the up.” Included here are initiation threat of terrorizing; and rating rites, hazing, and some rites of or ranking of personal gang passage. characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, disability, Why Bullying? perceived or actual sexual orientation, and overall peer At the core of bullying behaviors pressure to engage in activities is some need, issue or anxiety with which the victim is or anger that fuels bad, unknowledgeable or disrespectful, hurtful or violent uncomfortable. treatment of others. This is not limited to the way children Sexual Bullying: sexual sometimes treat each other but positioning and harassment and is pervasive throughout our abuse that include actual society. From school yards and physical contact and sexual hallways to corporate corridors assault; voyeurism; and and board rooms to team rooms exhibitionism in combination in government agencies, with many of the emotional, bullying takes place. Those who verbal, and physical behaviors are bullied as kids bully as listed above. adults and it takes the same forms; e.g. Ridicule, public Cyber Bullying: kids are using demeaning, name smearing or the Internet and mobile phones blacklisting, ostracizing, to extend the reach of bullying exclusion and dismissal, behavior. According to a recent humiliation, passing over for study, one in ten kids is affected promotion based on personal by cyber bullying. Girls are and subjective rather than more likely to be victims of objective performance criteria. cyber bullies and boys are more likely to be cyber bullies. There is also the issue of the Parents should be aware of what perception of mistreatment; 2 being treated unfairly, being left a) Poor grades and academic out or excluded. One of the achievement primary catalysts for gang b) Increased absenteeism, involvement and gang violence truancy and ultimately is the perception of being dropping out of school disrespected…or “dissed.” In c) Loss of a sense of self, retaliation, violence takes the ability to perform or form of beatings, drive bys, accomplish tasks, goals property damage, encroaching d) Engaging in violent on one’s “opponents” territory behaviors such as and other forms of retaliation. weapon-carrying In the workplace, the perception e) Experience feeling of of being “dissed” results in such isolation “coping” behaviors as sabotage, f) Become withdrawn and work slow downs or stoppages; display symptoms of challenging of authority, spying, depression with long term leaking of confidential emotional and/or information to competitors, the behavioral problems press or the public in an including anxiety attempt to muster support for g) Suicide ideation and one’s contentions or beliefs. attempts and other forms of self-harm such as Consequences of Bullying cutting, eating disorders, etc. At one level bullying interferes h) Initiation of substance use with learning and productivity. and abuse This is true not only for children but for adults as well. Since For adults: bullying behavior by definition is a) Development in later life not done under the eyes of of social anxiety disorders, higher authorities such as insecurities and display teachers, administrators, other symptoms of depression adults of senior hierarchy (as in b) Engaging in violent corporate and government behaviors such as environments), a climate of fear weapon-carrying, and intimidation pervades the domestic violence, and school, work, or other social homicide environment. c) Suicide ideation and attempts Victims of bullying often suffer d) Initiation of substance use any number of effects including: and abuse For children: Recommendations 3 Curbing and eliminating bullying 5. Children and youth need is everyone’s responsibility. to be afforded the opportunity to learn Preventing bullying involves alternative ways of changing norms. Much of our managing frustration, understanding of normative anger resentments and changes is derived from victimization other than substance use and abuse resorting to bullying; prevention. Normative change retaliation or violence. includes education, activities 6. Children and youth need and reinforcement of positive to be afforded the behaviors designed to reveal to opportunity to access youth as well as adults that “safe zones or harbors” bullying like substance use is without feeling ostracized. not the typical behavior of most 7. Bullies need to be held children, youth or adults and accountable for their that most children, youth or behaviors and the adults do not participate in such consequences of their behaviors nor condone them. behavior. Since in most instances, bullies are Some Guiding Principles: ‘acting out’ on some unaddressed mental 1. Kids know who is bullying health issue, bullies need and who is being bullied. to be afforded the Listen to them. opportunity to access 2. Parents need to become mental health services aware and involved. that promote resilience 3. Teachers, Principals, skill building activities and Counselors, other school services that help to staff including reduce risk factors. maintenance workers, school safety officers, and What You Can Do! clerical support staff need to be trained to recognize A. What Schools Can Do. and intervene in bullying Teachers, Administrators and situations. Students: 4. School systems need to be held accountable and • Bullying awareness should measured by adherence to be an integral part of a laws and polices regarding schools overall school bullying as they are for safety program. Schools educational achievement, typically focus on preparation and preventing violence that is graduation rates. obvious such as fights, 4 weaponry, gang wars, etc. • What did you eat for lunch Yet, schools can play a today? Who did you eat significant role in lunch with today? Who preventing bullying as a would you like to eat form of violence. lunch with? Why? • Create a safe zone and • Are you looking forward to policy in every school going to school tomorrow? building that Why?...or Why Not? destigmatizes victims who report bullying. For children ages 11- 15 • Same as above B. What Parents Need to Know • Is there any friend they’d and Do: like to invite to come home with them after Kids are good at hiding feelings school or on the weekend? and problems, but not to an • Is there anyone at school, astute parent or caregiver. they do not particularly like to be around? Why Is your child being bullied? not? • Do you feel safe at school; If you’re not sure, consider at school events such as talking with your kids about games; at other school and other social activities recreational or social such as youth groups, after events in the community? school and other recreational • Do you know what to do experiences.