Bullying behavior is aggressive behavior that happens over and over again. Bullying is unwanted behavior among school-aged children that involves real or what is perceived power imbalance. Both children which includes the bully and the bullied can have serious long lasting problems. Kids who are bullied can suffer from depression, anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in their sleep habits, eating patterns are changed up, and they can even lose interest in the activities they once used to love.
There are several types of bullying. There is physical, verbal, and relationship bullying. Physical bullying is usually the one that is noticed the most out of these three. Physical bullying can include but is not subjected to: hitting, kicking, pushing someone, or even threatening to do so, hiding, or ruining someone’s things, and making someone do things they rather not do. (PBS & CastleWorks Inc, 2005). Verbal bullying is targeted more towards girls. The goal of verbal bulling is to degrade and demean the victim, while making the aggressor look dominant and powerful. (Bullying Statistics, 2013). Relationship bullying often goes un-noticed because there are visible cuts or bruises. In relationship bullying we have what is called “stonewalling” which is simply the silent treatment, exclusions from the group, spreading rumors, gossip, taunting, and making friendships conditional. (Families Forever, n.d.)
- Bullying Statistics. (2013). Verbal Bullying – Bullying Statistics. Retrieved July 22, 2014, from http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/verbal-bullying.html
- Forever Families. (n.d.). Relational Bullying. Retrieved July 22, 2014, from http://foreverfamilies.byu.edu/article.aspx?a=124
- PBS., & CastelWorks, Inc. (2005). It’s My Life . Friends . Bullies | PBS Kids GO! Retrieved July 22, 2014, from http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/friends/bullies/
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Effects of Bullying | StopBullying.gov. Retrieved July 22, 2014, from http://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/effects/index.html