Page 7 - 2018_Jour_85-1_Societal-Issues

Schools and Societal Issues 7

Bullying: An Overview

By Doris Rhea Coy

ullying is sometimes seen as “a part of growing up” or “kids being kids.” However, bullying
Bis actually a prevalent form of youth violence, particularly in school settings. The author
defines bullying, describes the shapes and forms of bullying, and shares information on who
bullies and who gets bullied. Statistics concerning bullying are addressed and effects of bullying
are discussed. The article concludes with suggested interventions by parents and school personnel.

Definitions
According to the 2016 Webster’s New World College Dictionary 5th Ed., “a bully is a
person who hurts, frightens, or tyrannizes over those who are smaller or weaker” (p. 197).
In short, a bully is a person who hurts or browbeats those who are weaker. Other words
associated with bullying are push around, ruffian, rowdy, tough, tease, domineer, harass,
intimidate, torment, and abuse. Dr. Ken Rigby, researcher, summed up bullying as “…a desire
to hurt + hurtful action + a power imbalance + repetition + an unjust use of power +
satisfaction for the aggressor and a sense of being oppressed on the part of the target”
(2002, p. 51). Another definition for bullying is one or more persons repeatedly saying or
doing hurtful things to another person who has problems defending himself or herself.
Direct bullying usually involves hitting, kicking, or making insults, offensive and sneering
comments, or threats. Dan Olweus, preeminent researcher of bullying among school-age
children and youth, explained “a student is being bullied or victimized when he or she is
exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other
students” (1993, p. 9). These definitions apply to children as well as adults. Simply put,
bullying is a form of abuse, harassment, and violence.
Bullying has long been a tolerated behavior in schools in the United States. An article
in the February 2013 issue of Counseling Today projected that 13 million youngsters in
the United States would be bullied that year. Three million would be absent from school
at some point each day because they felt unsafe there (p. 31). More recently, information
concerning school shootings revealed that the individuals involved, the perpetrators, had
been in many cases taunted, bullied, harassed, and physically abused. A report by the
Secret Service, looking at all school shootings between 1940 and 2000, found only one
constant: The majority of the teenage shooters had themselves been victimized (Daniels,
2018). Suddenly, school leaders in the United States examined this behavior and, after
much research, decided that something must be done.

Shapes and Forms of Bullying
Bullying comes in a variety of shapes and forms. Nevertheless, three essential conditions
create a bullying situation: negative or malicious behavior, behavior repeated over a period