These are a few factors that can cause some people to resort to bullying:
• To hold power and to be part of a group
• Bullies tend to be unhappy or depressed
• Low self-esteem
• The adoption of a ruthless and manipulative approach to life because of a mistrust of others
• The belief that being highly aggressive will yield high levels of respect etc.
Research has also shown that behaviour problems such as bullying are associated with:
• Poverty • Performing poorly in school
• A lack of social skills
• The influence of movies and other media • Peer pressure
• Child abuse and family violence etc.
Programmes conducted in several countries to reduce the occurrence of bullying have all emphasised the following points:
• Bullying must be seen as a serious problem by all parties involved – by teachers, parents, and students • When bullying occurs, people in authority must take a definite stand against it • Potential victims must be provided with direct means for dealing with bullying e.g. what to do and who to see when bullying occurs • That outside help can be very useful in identifying the causes of bullying and in devising programmes to reduce it.
Tips for Preventing Bullying
The American Psychological Association (2019) recommends certain actions which teachers, parents, and students can take in addressing bullying.
Teachers can take the following actions:
• Emphasise to students that reporting bullying is not tattling
• If teachers observe bullying in a classroom they must immediately intervene, record, and report the incident
• Teachers can involve both parents and students in being part of the solution
• Explicitly remind students that bullying is not accepted and will have consequences
• Create an anti-bullying document and have both parent and student sign it
Actions parents can take:
• Observe your child for signs that they are being bullied – ripped clothing, hesitation about going to school, crying, or general anxiety or depression
• Have open-ended conversations with your child to find out what really is going on at school
• Teach your child how to handle bullying e.g., practising scenarios at home
• Setting boundaries with technology (with regards to cyber-bullying)
For parents whose child engages in bullying behaviour:
• Educate your child about bullying
• Look out for signs that your child may be having trouble reading social cues
• Remind your child that bullying others can lead to legal consequences
• Model positive examples for your child in your own relationships
• Look out for low self-esteem in your child as children tend to bully to feel better about themselves – address any mean behaviour
Children can take the following action:
• Try and remain calm when being bullied
• Be aware that it is important for them to report any bullying (including cyberbullying) to a parent or an adult that they trust, and that it should be handled by an adult • Avoid situations where there are no other students or teachers around
By Brad Peters, Registered Counsellor.