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Bullying is a pattern of harming and humiliating others who are weaker or more vulnerable. Learn about the psychological features of bullies and victims, the harmful consequences of bullying, and how to handle a bully and stop cyberbullying.
- Bullies are made, not born, and i t happens at an early age; if the normal aggression of 2-year-olds is not handled with consistency, children f...
- Research finds that bullies have a distinct psychological makeup . They lack prosocial behavior, are untroubled by anxiety , and do not understan...
- Girls are just as likely as boys to be bullies, but they are far less likely to engage in overt aggression. Instead, they tend to hurt others by d...
- Up to about age 7, bullies pick on almost anyone. After that, they single out kids to prey on. engaging in a "shopping process" to determine which...
- Studies of children show that victims easily acquiesce to bullies’ demands, handing over bikes, toys, and other playthings. They cry and assume a d...
- Bullying causes a great deal of misery to others, and its effects on victims can last for decades, perhaps even a lifetime. The pain of bullying ma...
- Some bullies do leave the behavior behind. But many do not; aggression is a very stable social interaction style . Many who were bullies as childr...
- Bullies frequently carry out their aggression before an audience of peers, and the presence of an audience can boost a bully’s sense of power. But...
- Bullying causes a great deal of emotional harm to individuals, and being a victim of bullying is a major reason why many young people drop out of s...
- Overview
- Deflect the bully with humo
- Avoid the bully as much as possibl
- Ignore the bully and walk awa
- Stand up for yoursel
- Use neutral language to describe the bully’s action
- Distract yourself from the bull
- Stick close to your friend
- Report the bullying to an authority figur
- Practice self-affirmation
Bullies come in all shapes and sizes. Nobody deserves to be bullied, but many of us deal with them over time, often as children. Either way, when you find yourself being bullied, there are many steps you can take to stop the behavior. Read on for a comprehensive list of tips on dealing with bullies, from standing up for yourself to walking away and improving your self-confidence.
Stand up to the bully with unemotional language, and don't let them see how much they affect you. If all else fails, just ignore them and walk away.
Enlist the help of your friends and travel in groups to stop bullies from approaching. Get help from a trusted authority figure, too.
Build up your self-confidence and learn to manage your stress so you don't feel overwhelmed or depressed. You'll get through this—it just takes time.
Laugh it off to show the bully they can't control your emotions.
When a bully starts bothering you, take a deep breath and start laughing. Laugh at everything they say—the worse the insult, the harder you should chuckle. After laughing, simply turn around and walk away without adding anything else. This tactic frustrates bullies because they want you to cry, not laugh.
Try to think of it as something hilarious and actually laugh, or imagine something genuinely funny to you, so your laugh sounds more natural.
Don't make jokes at your own expense, however. That'll only add fuel to the fire and give them something else to pick on you about.
When your bully doesn't see you, they won't bully you.
Try to avoid them in school and social situations. Steer clear of places you know they hang out, and if they take the same route that you do, opt for a different path, so you're not sharing the same space at any point. As the saying goes: out of sight, out of mind!
Pretend you can't hear and deny them the satisfaction of getting to you.
Do your best not to show any reaction in front of the bully—just walk away if you can. Bullies want attention and gain satisfaction from making others feel hurt or uncomfortable, so reacting to them will only encourage them further. Ignore them and deny them any power over you, and they'll soon get bored.
As you walk away from your bully, imagine you're walking away from a complete stranger instead. In their eyes, you'll seem more calm and unbothered by their antics.
There's no point talking to someone who is acting irrationally. That's why an easy way to preserve your dignity and deal with a bully is to say, "I don't have time for this," and leave.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
What do you think is the best way to ignore a bully?
Gather your courage and firmly tell the bully, "no."
When a bully approaches you, stand tall and
—or pretend, even if you don't feel brave. Loudly and confidently say, "No! Stop it," to them, and then walk away. Similarly, if you see a bully bothering someone else, tell the bully to stop and then walk away with the other person in a show of support.
line like, "Whatever," "Why are you talking to me?" “Hey, that’s not funny,” and "Here we go again. Can we move on already?"
through your body language and posture. Keep your back straight and your head high without fidgeting.
If you’re a parent, help your child practice good comebacks. Make a list of responses and play out different scenarios with them so they’re prepared the next time a bully bothers them.
Unemotional language makes it easier to talk without getting upset.
When your bully says mean things, repeat what they said and explain why it's not cool for them to talk like that. Use neutral language to make it clear that you're not getting worked up—just stating facts. It shows the bully that you know what they're trying to do, and you won't let them take your power away or turn you into a victim.
Use distraction tactics so the bully can't see how you really feel.
One good tactic is to count down from 100 until you're somewhere safe. This way, you won't react to whatever your bully says because your mind is focused on something else. Come up with a distraction plan that works for you, whether counting, spelling or singing a song in your mind.
For example, you could recite the lyrics of your favorite song to yourself.
Alternatively, you could try spelling your first and last name backward and then your parents' names to keep your brain busy.
Bullies are less likely to pick on you when you're not alone.
Did you know that bullies mainly go after people who are by themselves? In a bully's mind, one person is easy to conquer—but a whole group is too much work. Hang out with your friends as much as possible and travel in pairs (or groups) each day. The more time you spend with others, the less your bully will target you.
If the bully does try to approach you while you're with friends, simply turn the group around and walk away.
Talk to your friends about what you're going through, too. Help them understand your feelings about the situation, and let them look out for you. That's what friends are for!
Tell an adult that you trust so they can help you deal with your bully.
It can be nerve-wracking to tell someone else about your situation, but speaking to a trusted adult will make you feel less afraid. In addition, it's crucial to tell someone if you're in danger of physical harm from your bully. Try talking to your parents, a favorite teacher, a guidance counselor, or a school psychologist.
Explain what's happening, who's involved, and how long it's been going on. Then, ask what they'll do to help stop the bully.
If the adult you first talk to doesn't do enough, go and tell someone else. Don't give up until you find an adult willing to step in and help.
As a parent, try keeping an open line of communication with your child. Use a calm and compassionate tone so they feel comfortable coming to you, and check in with them daily to ask how things are going.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
Recite affirmations and remind yourself to be proud of who you are.
to withstand a bully's mean remarks. It's important to be proud of yourself and love yourself no matter what! Practice daily self-affirmations, reminding yourself of all your strengths, talents, and positive qualities. Eliminate negative self-talk too, and say only kind things to yourself.
Challenge negative beliefs and replace them with better ones. For example, change "I can't do this" to "I am strong and capable. I can overcome any challenge, including this one."
Everyone has an inner strength to draw on. Bullies try to make you feel like you're weak, but it's not true. You have the strength to get through this!
- Wendy Rose Gould
- They Have Emotional Trauma. You might be familiar with the phrase, “hurt people hurt people.” While personal trauma doesn’t give anyone an excuse to hurt others, sometimes it can give us insight into how the other person works.
- They’re Insecure. Any community can have unspoken tiers of “social status,” which can prompt people with bullying tendencies to taunt others for social gain.
- They’ve Been Bullied. Sometimes people bully because they themselves have been the victim of bullying. In a way, they may feel as though bullying others can protect them from the familiar experience of being bullied themselves.
- It’s Learned Behavior. Other times, bullying is learned behavior. For instance, if a child witnesses an adult bullying others—or is the subject of bullying from their own parent or adult—then they may repeat that behavior.
Aug 1, 2023 · Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. Learn about the three types of bullying (verbal, social and physical), where and when it happens, and how often it occurs in the U.S.
- Bullying Is a Big Deal. Bullying is a big problem that affects lots of kids. Most kids say they have been bullied or teased. Being bullied can make kids feel really bad, and the stress of dealing with it can make them feel sick.
- Why Do Bullies Act That Way? Some bullies are looking for attention. They might think bullying is a way to be popular or to get what they want. Most bullies are trying to make themselves feel more important.
- Bullying: How to Handle It. So now you know that bullying is a big problem that affects a lot of kids, but what do you do if someone is bullying you? Our advice falls into two categories: preventing a run-in with the bully, and what to do if you end up face-to-face with the bully.
- Preventing a Run-In With a Bully. Don't give the bully a chance. As much as you can, avoid the bully. You can't go into hiding or skip class, of course. But if you can take a different route and avoid the mean kid, do so.
Unlike normal conflict, bullying is a systematic and repeated abuse committed intentionally by another student who has more power (physical, social, or otherwise). School bullies may taunt and tease their target before finally physically bullying them.
People also ask
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Sep 9, 2021 · Learn the definition, research, statistics, and effects of bullying on youth and adults. Find out how to prevent bullying and what laws protect students from it.
