Bullying!

What is Bullying? Bullying is a conscious, willful, deliberate, hostile, and repeated behavior by one or more people, which is intended to harm others. Bullying takes many forms and can include many behaviors, such as: Physical violence and attacks Verbal taunts name-calling and put-downs Threats and intimidation Extortion or stealing of money or possessions Exclusion from the peer group

More about Bullying… It is the assertion of power through aggression. Its forms change with age: Playground bullying, sexual harassment, gang attacks, date violence, assault,,marital violence, child abuse, workplace harassment, elder abuse. It’s not about anger or a conflict to be resolved. It is about contempt, a powerful feeling of dislike toward someone considered to be useless, inferior or undeserving of respect.

Myth and Facts Myth: “Bullying is just a stage, a normal part of life. I went through it and my kids will too.” FACT: Bullying is not “normal” or socially acceptable behavior. We give bullies power by our acceptance of this behavior.

More Myths and Facts… Myth: “If I tell someone, it will just make it worse.” Fact: Research shows that bullying will stop when adults in authority and peers get involved.

More…. Myth: “just stand up for yourself and hit them back.” FACT: While there are some times when people can be forced to defend themselves, hitting back usually makes the bullying worse and increases the risk for serious physical harm. Children who bully are excited by the victim who fights back.

and more… Myth: “Bullying is a school problem, the teachers should handle it.” FACT: Bullying is a broader social problem that often happens outside of schools, on the street, at shopping centers, the local pool, summer camp and in the adult workplace.”

And… Myth: People are born bullies” FACT: Bullying is a learned behavior and behaviors can be changed.

Just a few more… Myth: “Only boys bully.” FACT: Both males and females may engage in bullying behavior, however, the genders tend to use different methods. Males engage in physical and verbal aggression, while females employ social alienation and overt and subtle intimidation.

Myth: As a rule, children who bully do poorly in school and have low self-esteem. FACT: Most often, those who bully are average students and often have very high self-esteem; their superior power is a source of great personal pride.

Finally…. Myth: Once a bully, always a bully. FACT: Bullying behavior is learned; therefore, it can be unlearned. The earlier attempts are made to change it, the more easily and effectively those changes are made. In addition, the bully must be motivated to change this pattern of behavior.

Here are some statistics… Bullies have little empathy for their victims and show little remorse about bullying Bullying occurs on school playgrounds every 7 minutes and once every 25 minutes in class. Boys and girls are equally likely to report being victimized.

About Bullies… Boys who bully are physically stronger and have a need to dominate others Girls who bully tend to be physically weaker than other girls in their class Bullies tend to be assertive and easily provoked. They are attracted to situations with aggressive content and have positive attitudes about aggression. 85% of bullying episodes occur in the context of a peer group.

About Victims Victims often keep their problems a secret: they feel they should handle bullying themselves; worry abut revenge or disapproval from others and think adults can do little to help them Bully/victims are the most insecure, the least likeable, and the most unsuccessful in school

Bullying Awareness Week November 19-23, 2007 Click to play a game Click to see a show