Bullying
Bullying happens when someone repeatedly says or does hurtful things to someone else on purpose.
Bullying can involve just two people or a group of people and comes in many forms:
- Physical: using your body or objects to cause harm. Examples include hitting, punching, kicking, spitting or breaking someone else’s belongings.
- Verbal: using words to hurt someone. Examples include name calling, put-downs, threats and teasing.
- Social: using your friends and relationships to hurt someone. Examples include spreading rumours, gossiping, excluding others from a group or making others look foolish or unintelligent.
- Cyberbullying: using technology (such as a computer or cell phone) to hurt someone. Examples include sending mean or threatening emails or text/instant messages, posting embarrassing photos online, creating websites to make fun of others or pretending you are someone else by using his or her name.
Facts
Why do people bully?
- They may be unhappy and take their unhappiness out on others
- They may have been bullied themselves
- It makes them feel superior to others and in control
- To get attention
- To feel tough
- They think it will make them popular
- They may be jealous of the people they are bullying
People who bully typically have self-esteem issues, may fear getting picked on, are not happy with themselves and may be having trouble expressing negative emotions or dealing with issues in their own lives. Bullying is learned behaviour and can be eliminated.
Need Help?
If You Are a Victim of Bullying…
- Try to stay calm. Often bullies are just looking to get a reaction from you.
- Remove yourself from the situation as soon as it is safe to do so.
- Tell someone. No one deserves to be bullied and you should not have to tolerate being treated like that. Talk to someone about what is going on. Tell a friend, your parents, a teacher or trusted adult about what is going on.
If You See Someone Else Being Bullied…
- Speak up if it is safe to do so. Often, all it takes is one person to step in and say something to end bullying.
- Get help or tell someone if you witness someone being bullied. Talk to the person who was being bullied and offer to go with them to talk to someone about what they experienced. A little support can go a long way!
If You Bully Others…
- Realize that your actions affect and hurt others. Your actions may also land you in trouble with your parents, your school and even the law.
- Ask yourself why you bully. What is it you are hoping to accomplish? Can it be accomplished in a more positive way?
- Seek out other ways you can be a leader and take control over your life without hurting others. You could instead get involved with sports teams, school groups or community activities.
If other issues are bothering you, talk to someone about it. Tell your parents, a teacher, counsellor or trusted adult about how you are feeling (angry/hurt/upset) and possible reasons as to why you are feeling that way.
What you can do
If you want to help deal with bullying, there are many things you can do:
- Take an active stance against bullying.
- Talk to teachers or your principal in your school about the issue of bullying and what actions your school is taking to prevent and deal with bullying.
- Suggest an open meeting about the issue of bullying in your school or community, as others may have ideas or suggestions about the topic but feel as though they have no place to say them in.
Links
Inside Out – BullyBusters
Success Unlimited
Bullying Canada
Bully free Alberta
An excerpt from the second edition of A.S.A.P.: A School-based Anti-Violence Program