Social bullying is aggressive behavior aimed at causing mental and emotional harm and social isolation for the victim. It can occur in various settings and can continue into adulthood. The bully lacks empathy and may have learned the behavior from others or been bullied before. Victims suffer from depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, and stopping the behavior requires a team effort.
Social bullying is deliberate, repetitive and aggressive social behavior aimed at hurting others. This type of behavior generally includes verbal abuse, gossip, or other actions that cause mental and emotional harm and social isolation for the victim. Schools, sports activities, colleges, home and work situations, and neighborhoods are some of the places where this type of bullying occurs.
The goal of social bullying is to demean and harm another individual or group. In middle school, for example, bullying might take the form of making fun of unpopular children. Making fun of another child’s clothes, making fun of the way he talks, and mocking his academic achievements or his race or culture are examples of behaviors a bully might exhibit to gain power over another child.
This type of bullying carries into adulthood in some cases. Such behaviors can be found among family members, in work situations, in college social groups, and in neighborhood activities. Socially sabotaging others by spreading rumors, constantly telling them what to do, and any other behavior that intentionally brings shame and humiliation and exerts control over others can be set as an example.
Social bullying is usually caused by a combination of factors. In almost all cases, the bully lacks empathy for his targeted individual or group. In some cases, he has learned this behavior by observing others, or he may have been bullied before. Jealousy is another cause, whereby an individual feels threatened by another individual’s characteristics or achievements and engages in bullying as a way to feel entitled and dominant.
The negative consequences of social bullying are extensive. Victims often suffer from depression, anxiety, social isolation, and low self-esteem. Some victims commit suicide or commit homicidal acts due to extreme mental and social pressures. Individuals who were bullied in childhood can carry the emotional wounds into adulthood, leading to depression, social isolation, and an inability to react appropriately to unfair situations.
Stopping this type of bullying usually takes a team effort. Submission on the part of the victim tends to perpetuate injustice. Those who observe the behavior, such as teachers, students, co-workers, teammates, and family members, need to step in to intervene on behalf of the victim. Victims should not be made to feel that it is their responsibility alone to fight the abuse. Curbing bullying behavior is more effective as soon as it occurs and more difficult once the person has found supporters and acquired a greater degree of social power.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
