• Although definitions of bullying vary, most agree that bullying involves:– Imbalance of Power: people who bully use

their power to control or harm and the people being bullied may have a hard time defending themselves

– Intent to Cause Harm: actions done by accident are not bullying; the person bullying has a goal to cause harm

– Repetition: incidents of bullying happen to the same the person over and over by the same person or group

Who Are Bullies?• Class bullies are often thought of as

outcasts whose actions lead to rejection by their peers, but new research shows that many are actually popular kids who raise their social standing by picking on others

• Children who bully typically demonstrate a strong sense of self-esteem

• They like to feel powerful and in control

Why do people Bully?• Family risk factors for bullying:

– A lack of warmth and involvement on the part of parents.– Overly-permissive parenting (including a lack of limits

for children’s behavior).– A lack of supervision by parents.– Harsh, physical discipline.– Parent modeling of bullying behavior.– Victimization by older brothers.

Why do people Bully?

• Peer risk factors for bullying: – Friends who bully.– Friends who have positive attitudes about violence.1

– Some aggressive children who take on high status roles may use bullying as a way to enhance their social power and protect their prestige with peers.

– Some children with low social status may use bullying as a way to deflect taunting and aggression that is directed towards them, or to enhance their social position with higher status peers.

Who Are The Victims of Bullying?

• Children who are bullied are often insecure, shy, socially isolated, anxious, and have low self-esteem

• They are unlikely to defend themselves or retaliate

• They tend to be weaker than their peers

Who Are The Victims of Bullying? Cont’d

• Parents of children who are bullied are often overprotective or enmeshed with their children

• Children who are bullied perceive parent or teacher intervention to be ineffective and are unlikely to report the problem

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/461754/they_committed_suicide_because_of_bullying/

Statistics

• Ninety percent (90%) of 4th through 8th graders report being victims of bullying.

• Up to 7 percent (7%) of 8th graders stay home at least once a month because of bullies.

• Bullying peaks in the middle school years.

• One in seven students is either a bully or victim.

Types of Bullying

• Physical Bullying

• Verbal Bullying

• Indirect Bullying

• Social Alienation

• Intimidation

• Cyber bullying

• What are these????

•http://www.athinline.org/videos/15-ryan

Cyber bullying Statistics• Nearly 42% of kids have been bullied online and

almost one in four have had it happen more than once.

• Among this percentage, being ignored and disrespected were the most common forms of cyber bullying.

• Nine out of ten middle school students have had their feelings hurt online.

• Four out of ten middle school students have had their password(s) stolen and changed by a bully who then locked them out of their own account or sent communications posing as them.

• About 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mails.

• Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying.

• About 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than four out of ten say it has happened more than once.

• Cyber bullying has increased in recent years. In a national survey of 10-17 year olds, twice as many children indicated they had been victims and perpetrators.

Sexting• Sending sexually explicit messages via cell

phone or instant messenger.

• How can this become a form of cyber bullying?

• http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34236377/ns/today-today_people/

Warning Signs of Someone being Bullied

The pain and embarrassment of being bullied often causes victims to hide what is going on. But, there are a variety of ways to tell if your child is being bullied. Symptoms include:

• Depression• Anxiety• Safety concerns• Sadness• Aggression

• Academic issues• Low self-esteem• Deficits in peer relations• Substance use

Warning Signs a child is a Bully• Some bullies are quite popular, enjoying high

status and esteem from their peers, and even teachers. These are called “Hidden bullies” - popular children who exhibit aggression (persistent arguing, fighting, getting in trouble).

• Children who bully tend to have: – Average or above average self-esteem.– Impulsive personalities.– Lack of empathy.– Difficulty conforming to rules.– Positive attitudes toward violence.

Long-Term Implications of Bullying

• Children who are bullies are likely experience legal or criminal problems as adults

• Children can carry bullying behaviors into adulthood and experience difficulty in forming and maintaining relationships

• Up to thirty-five percent (35%) of chronic adolescent bullies spend time in prison as adults.

Be the change

• Studies show that it only takes one person to continue asking about the bullying situation to let the bullied person know you care.

Can you Stop A Bully?

• Take a stand and do not join in. Make it clear that you do not support what is going on.

• Do not watch someone being bullied. If you feel safe, tell the person to stop. If you do not feel safe saying something, walk away and get others to do the same. If you walk away and do not join in, you have taken their audience and power away.

• Support the person being bullied. Tell them that you are there to help. Offer to either go with them to report the bullying or report it for them.

• Talk to an adult you trust. Talking to someone could help you figure out the best ways to deal with the problem. Reach out to a parent, teacher or another adult that you trust to discuss the problem, especially if you feel like the person may be at risk of serious harm to themselves or others.

For More Information About Bullying Visit:

• http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov • http://www.athinline.org• http://www.education.com/topic/school-bullying-

teasing/