Bullying is a way to gain control or power at the expense of others, and can take many forms. Victims must make their feelings known and seek help if necessary. Bullies are often insecure and addressing the root cause is important for stopping the behavior.
Whether it’s in the high school playground or the highest corporate office, bullying is a strategy to gain control or power at the expense of others. Insults, threats, physical attacks and damage to property or the use of peer pressure can all be forms of bullying. It is often up to the victim and those around them to stop the bullying. In the schoolyard, parents, teachers and other children can help stop bullying, while adults must rely on friends, colleagues and bosses to end the destructive tendencies of bullying.
Some people find it difficult to distinguish bullying from teasing or joking. Often times a bully can make criticisms and personal attacks, but they just can’t handle it. Teasing and joking occurs between equals and is equally given and accepted; a bully, since he is trying to exert control, will usually not be able to receive the same level of treatment in return.
To stop bullying, a victim must first make their feelings known. For many, children and adults alike, this is a difficult task. In social settings, people want to be seen as cold and harsh and don’t want to appear whiny or childish. Telling a bully that his actions are hurtful and unfunny can be difficult, but it’s a good way to tell a real bully from a prankster who takes things too far. Someone who isn’t a bully will likely sincerely apologize and stop bullying when confronted with an honest and direct complaint.
If, on the other hand, a person responds to the complaint with taunts, name calling or increased bullying, a victim can now be confident that they are dealing with a real bully and should feel more comfortable seeking help to stop the behavior. of bullying. If a person has confronted their bully to no avail, talking to authority figures is no longer gossip, but pointing out inappropriate behavior. If a teacher or boss doesn’t respond to complaints, take it to an even higher level authority. Schools and businesses almost always have a code of conduct for which they are legally responsible; if no action is taken after repeated attempts to inform the authorities, the victim has the full right to take legal action.
It’s easy to think of bullies as evil people, but in reality, they’re often deeply insecure. To stop bullying behavior, it’s important that the bully’s friends and families get to the root of the problem. Many bullies are bullied themselves, by parents and older siblings. To truly stop bullying, the need to exercise power and control through cruelty must be addressed and discussed with the bully. Parents, teachers and school counselors have a responsibility to not only stop the behavior but also to help the bully find more constructive ways of behavior.
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