Bullying
Bullying refers to abusive treatment inflicted by individuals to others that may involve
verbal harassment, coercion or physical assault, especially when it is habitual and
involving an imbalance of physical or social power. The behavior may be regularly
directed towards particular individuals by reasons of race, religion, sex or ability.
Bullying may be emotional, verbal or physical and commonly involves subtle coercive
actions such as intimidation. It ranges from one-on-one situations to group action in
which the primary bully is assisted by others in his activities. Bullying can happen in
any setting where there is human interaction including home, family, school, church,
the workplace and neighborhoods. It can exist between social groups or classes and
even amongst countries, where power imbalances between nations are often cited as
causes of conflicts, such as in the cases of both World Wars.[1]
Bullying can also be done indirectly by actions that exclude the victim from activities and
social situations. Social isolation of the victim is achieved through techniques like
spreading gossip and lies, refusing to socialize with the victim and bullying others who
wish to do so and criticizing the victim’s dress, race, religion and other qualities. Bullying
can have serious or even fatal consequences, including the victims’ being at risk of
stress related illnesses which can lead to suicide, or the victims’ sudden eruption into
violence. Victims can also suffer from long-term emotional problems including low
self-esteem, anxiety and depression. Bullies have a strong need to control or dominate
others, a prejudicial view of subordinates, may be motivated by envy and resentment or
use their behavior to conceal shame or to boost self-esteem. They may themselves be
the victims of bullying and have a much higher likelihood of running afoul with the law.
The continuance of the bullying cycle is also viewed as due to an inadequate response
on the part of the bullying target that is seen by both the bully and target as not enough
to not repeat the bullying. Individuals who are capable of reacting to initial bullying in
ways that sufficiently discourage bullies from further attempts are less likely to be drawn
into the bullying cycle.[2]
School bullying by way of physical, verbal or emotional abuse repeated over a period of
time occurs inside or outside of the campus. Targets of bullying are often students who
are regarded as strange or different by other students and that most of the latter do not
see their actions as being negative or unacceptable as much as adults generally do and
may even find enjoyment in them. The school system and teachers can also perpetrate
bullying because of their power in the system, even while being committed to anti-
bullying policies.[3]
Bullying can also occur in the workplace where such tactics as verbal, nonverbal,
psychological, physical abuse and humiliation are used within the rules and policies of
the organization and society. Majority of such cases are reported to have been
perpetrated overtly or covertly by supervisors or management on employees, with
women appearing to be at a greater risk in becoming a target. Bullying behaviors pose a
threat to the professional status and personal standing of individuals and includes
physical and social isolation, malicious overwork and undermining of the duties and
responsibilities of employees. Common tactics used by workplace bullies include
making false accusations, exhibiting hostile behavior, disregarding of people’s thoughts
or feelings in meetings and using the silent treatment on targets.[4]
Cyber-bullying refers to the deliberate, repeated and hostile behavior by an individual
or group towards others through the use of information and communication
technologies like cell phones and the Internet. Awareness and legislative measures
have arisen to fight this emerging problem in society, especially among young people.
Cyber-bullying includes sending or posting text or images that will hurt or embarrass
another person, persistent sending of unwanted e-mail, making threats, sexual remarks
and statements intended to ridicule a target. Cyber-bullying in the workplace includes
malicious product reviews, using forums to present a victim in a false light and
vandalizing a search engine to undermine a victim’s earnings, employment or safety.[5]
[1] “Bullying”, Wikipedia, 28 June 2011, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullying> [accessed 29 June 2011]
[2] ibid
[3] “School Bullying”, Wikipedia, 22 June 2011, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_bullying>
[accessed 30 June 2011]
[4] “Workplace Bullying”, Wikipedia, 23 June 2011, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workplace_bullying>
[accessed 30 June 2011]
[5] “Cyber-Bullying”, Wikipedia, 24 June 2011, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber-bullying>
[accessed 30 June 2011]
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