A Closer Look at Bullies and Their Victims
Shannon White, M.A., LCMHC, RPT
Did you know that there has been a 128% increase in bullying from 1950 to 2000? As a result, bullying continues to be an ever-present epidemic within our local school system. Bullying is defined as an act of repeated aggressive behavior in order to intentionally hurt another person, physically or mentally. Despite popular belief, the recent research finds that bullies are no longer traditionally the insecure, self-loathing group of people. Bullies tend to be confident, have high self esteem and have an elevated social status among their peers. Bullies often use their position of power to single out their peers for a variety of reasons. This can include personality conflicts, such as others being studious or introverted or due to demographic differences such as race, religion or sexual orientation. The most common characteristics seen in bullies include physical aggression, impulsivity and trouble controlling their anger. Research suggests that most bullies mirror the aggressive, violent behavior they have witnessed at home. As a result, they take this pattern into adulthood, as bullies are four times more likely to be convicted of crimes before the age of 24.
The most impactful change among bullying in our current generation involves Cyberbullying, which is defined as the use of the Internet and related technologies to harm other people, in a deliberate, repeated, and hostile manner. In the past, young people who suffered from bullying at school could find reprieve at home within their family environment. However, due to the multiple avenues of technology including, text messaging, instant messaging, chat rooms, Facebook and Twitter, it is hard to escape bullies even when outside of the school environment. Other differences in Cyberbullying are that it can be more public and therefore can spread quickly among groups of peers. Cyberbullying can also be anonymous, which limits any remorse or responsibility in bullying others. Therefore, this type of bullying can often be much more cruel and vicious in nature. A study in 2007 reported that 50% of victims of Cyberbullying were unaware of who had bullied them. This makes bullying even harder for parents to monitor and address among young people.
The impact of bullying can lead to multiple symptoms such as feeling stressed, anxious and afraid. Many young people who have been bullied begin to socially isolate, as they often avoid going to school, sports or other social situations. One of the most common psychological disorders found in victims of bullying is depression, which can severely impair a person’s ability to function. Symptoms can include sadness, headaches, inability to focus and low self worth. The most severe symptom of depression includes thoughts of suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death within people ages 15-24 years old. As a result of suicide being on the rise due to bullying, the term “bullycide” has been created. The correlation between suicidal thoughts and bullying is extremely important for parents, school administrators and youth leaders to be aware of. Recognizing the signs, intervening and knowing the resources available are all ways to combat bullying and prevent suicide.
