Bullying is when someone uses force, threatening behavior, hurtful words, or comments to harm, control, or scare another person. This behavior usually happens more than once and is repeated over time. A key part of bullying is the belief, by the person doing it or others, that there is an unequal balance of power between the bully and the victim. This unequal power is what makes the behavior bullying instead of just a disagreement. Bullying is a type of aggressive behavior that has a clear goal, such as trying to fix the power imbalance, and it happens repeatedly over time.

Bullying can be done by one person or a group. When a group is involved, it is sometimes called "mobbing," and others may join in by laughing or supporting the bully. Bullying in schools or workplaces is also called "peer abuse." Robert W. Fuller studied bullying in the context of "rankism," which refers to unfair treatment based on power. Dan Olweus, a researcher, said bullying happens when someone is repeatedly exposed to harmful actions, such as being hurt physically, insulted, or treated unfairly. Individual bullying often includes using threatening words, physical force, or intimidation to gain control over another person.

Bullying can happen in many places where people interact, such as schools, homes, workplaces, or neighborhoods. In some countries, bullying in colleges is called "ragging." Today, social media is a common place where bullying occurs. A 2012 study found that male athletes were more likely to bully if they thought the most important adult in their lives would approve of the behavior. A 2019 study showed that girls who use social media more are more likely to experience bullying.

Bullying can be described in different ways. In the United Kingdom, there is no official legal definition of bullying, but some U.S. states have laws against it. Bullying is usually grouped into four types: psychological (emotional or relational), verbal, physical, and cyber (electronic). A single event might fit into more than one category.

Behaviors used to control others can include hitting, threatening, or saying hurtful things. These actions often target specific people. People sometimes justify bullying by pointing to differences in things like social class, race, religion, gender, appearance, or ability.

Etymology

The word "bully" was first used in the 1530s to mean "sweetheart" and could be used for people of any gender. It came from the Dutch word "boel," meaning "lover" or "brother," which may have come from the Middle High German word "buole," meaning "brother." The origin of this word is not certain. Over time, the meaning of "bully" changed. By the 17th century, it meant "a fine fellow" or "a loud, boastful person," and later it came to mean "someone who harasses the weak." This shift in meaning may have connected the idea of a "lover" with a "ruffian" or someone who protects a prostitute, though this specific meaning was first recorded in 1706. The verb "to bully" was first used in 1710.

In American culture, the word "bully" was sometimes used as an exclamation or way to encourage someone. It became closely linked to Theodore Roosevelt. In 1907, Roosevelt used the phrase "bully for him" as a way to express approval or support. The term "bully pulpit" describes using a powerful position, such as a political role, to influence public opinion and drive change. Over time, the word "bully" has changed in meaning. It began as a term of affection, then became a form of sarcastic praise, and finally came to describe actions or behaviors that cause fear or harm to others.

Types

Bullying has been grouped into different types by researchers. These types include nonverbal, verbal, or physical actions. Another way to classify bullying is by the people involved, such as bullying done by one person or by a group. Some classifications also include emotional and relational bullying, which involve hurting someone’s feelings or relationships, as well as causing physical harm to a person or their belongings.

This type of behavior can occur in extreme cases, such as hate crimes. A hate crime happens when someone harms a victim because they believe the victim belongs to a group they dislike. Perpetrators may target victims based on race, ethnicity, skin color, religion, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. Both bullying and hate crimes involve showing disrespect or devaluing someone for reasons the bully considers acceptable. However, not all bullying is a hate crime. Bullies often choose victims based on traits they view as different from their own. This makes people in minority groups more likely to be targeted. However, bullies may also select victims who are easier to harm or who appear vulnerable. This motivation is broader than that of hate crimes.

Researchers are now studying a newer form of bullying called "cyberbullying," which happens online, often through the internet. Physical, verbal, and relational bullying are most common in primary school and may begin even earlier, continuing into adulthood. Cyberbullying usually starts during early adolescence, when more people have access to mobile devices.

Individual bullying happens when one person targets one or more victims. This type of bullying can be divided into four categories.

Physical bullying involves harming someone’s body or damaging their belongings. Examples include stealing, shoving, hitting, kicking, fighting, and destroying property. Physical bullying is rarely the first form of bullying a victim experiences. Bullying often starts with verbal or relational actions before progressing to physical harm. In physical bullying, the bully uses their body or objects as weapons. Sometimes, groups of young people may target a peer due to prejudice, leading to taunting, torture, or physical attacks. Physical bullying can worsen over time and may lead to serious or fatal outcomes. This is why many people try to stop it quickly when it is reported or observed.

Verbal bullying is the most common type of bullying. It involves using speech, voice, or body language without physical contact. Bullying often begins with verbal actions, such as insults or teasing. The main tool in verbal bullying is the bully’s voice. This type of bullying is common in both boys and girls, but girls are more likely to use it. Girls often use subtler insults and social exclusion to dominate others or gain approval from someone they admire. Boys may also use verbal bullying to avoid the risks of physical bullying.

Relational bullying, also called social aggression, involves harming someone’s relationships or reputation. This can include actions that lower someone’s social standing or cause them to feel excluded. Social exclusion is a common form of relational bullying. Unlike physical bullying, relational bullying is not obvious and may go unnoticed for long periods. It is more common among girls but can occur in any group.

Cyberbullying uses technology, such as the internet, to harass, threaten, or embarrass someone. When adults are involved, this may be considered cyber-harassment or cyberstalking, which are crimes that can result in legal consequences, including jail time. Cyberbullying often occurs through email, instant messaging, social media, text messages, or phone calls. It is more common in secondary school than in primary school.

The internet allows people to bully with less accountability, making it easier to hide their actions. This is described as the "online disinhibition effect." Cyberbullying can harm someone’s online reputation because information shared online often remains visible indefinitely. Future employers or others may see a person’s digital footprint, which includes how they treated others online. Another issue is that others can easily share or repost harmful content through social media.

Mobbing is when a group bullies an individual in any setting, such as at school, work, or online. In the workplace, mobbing may involve emotional abuse, such as spreading rumors, humiliating someone, or isolating them to force them out of their job. This is also called malicious harassment.

Characteristics

Studies show that envy and resentment can be reasons for bullying. Research about bullies' self-esteem has given mixed results. Some bullies are arrogant and narcissistic, but others use bullying to hide shame or anxiety or to feel more confident. By putting others down, bullies may feel powerful. Bullies may act out of jealousy or because they are being bullied themselves. Psychologist Roy Baumeister says people who act abusively often have overly confident but not truly secure egos. Because they think highly of themselves, they are often upset by others' criticism or lack of respect and respond with violence or insults.

Researchers have found other risk factors, such as depression, personality disorders, quickness to anger, using force, addiction to aggressive behavior, misinterpreting others' actions as hostile, focusing on keeping a good self-image, and acting in strict or obsessive ways. A mix of these factors may also cause bullying. In one study of young people, a combination of unfriendly traits and depression was the best predictor of violent behavior, while exposure to violent video games or television was not linked to such behavior.

Bullying may also come from a genetic tendency or brain differences in the bully. While parents can help toddlers learn emotional control to reduce aggression, some children fail to develop these skills due to poor family relationships, ineffective discipline, or stressful home environments with hostile siblings. Some researchers also say bullies may be more negative and do worse in school.

However, some researchers say that some bullies are emotionally strong and have high social status among peers, while their targets are emotionally troubled and socially isolated. Peer groups often support bullying, and members of these groups may also mock, exclude, punch, or insult others for fun. Other researchers say that a small group of bullies, who are not themselves bullied, enjoy going to school and are least likely to miss school due to illness.

Studies show that adults who bully often have controlling personalities and a strong need to dominate others. It has also been suggested that viewing others as inferior can be a major risk factor.

In a recent study, bullies had lower self-esteem related to school performance than students who were not involved in bullying. However, they had higher self-esteem in social situations than victims of traditional bullying.

Brain studies show that the part of the brain linked to rewards becomes active when bullies see someone else causing pain.

Bullying often happens in front of many bystanders who are not directly involved. Sometimes, bullies create the illusion that most people support their actions, making others afraid to speak out. If the "bully mentality" is not addressed early, it may become an accepted norm in the group. Bystanders may not act because of the "bystander effect," where more people present make individuals feel less responsible for helping.

If no action is taken, bullying can become a long-lasting problem within a group.

Bystanders who have formed their own "friendship group" or "support group" are more likely to speak out against bullying than those who do not.

To address bullying, it is important to clearly state that bystanders should intervene and help individuals feel capable of doing so. Research also shows that effective interventions should emphasize that bullying is morally wrong.

Among adults, witnessing workplace bullying has been linked to depression.

Victims of bullying often have traits such as being physically or mentally weak, easily upset, or having physical characteristics that make them targets, like being overweight or having physical differences. Boys are more likely to be victims of physical bullying, while girls are more likely to be bullied in indirect ways.

Low self-esteem is often linked to being a bullying victim. Victims of traditional bullying usually have lower self-esteem in general, socially, related to their bodies, and emotionally compared to students who are not involved. Victims of cyberbullying may not have lower self-esteem than uninvolved students but may have higher self-esteem related to their appearance than traditional bullying victims or bullies.

Studies also show that victims are more likely to use self-deprecating humor, making jokes about themselves to entertain others, even if it harms their own feelings.

Effects

Mona O'Moore from the Anti-Bullying Centre at Trinity College in Dublin wrote, "Research shows that people, whether children or adults, who are often treated badly may face health problems caused by stress, which can sometimes lead to suicide." People who are bullied may have lasting emotional and behavior issues. Bullying can cause loneliness, sadness, worry, low self-confidence, and a greater chance of getting sick. It can also make young children have trouble adjusting, and those who are both bullies and victims may face even more social challenges. A mental health report found that bullying is linked to eating disorders, worry, body image issues, and other mental health problems. Both victims and bullies often feel more lonely.

Even though bullying increases the risk of suicide, it does not cause suicide on its own. Depression is a major reason why some children who are bullied die by suicide. In the UK alone, about 15 to 25 children die by suicide each year because of bullying. Some groups, such as Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Asian Americans, and LGBTQ+ individuals, are more likely to face suicide risks. When a person feels unsupported by family or friends, it can make the situation worse for the victim.

A study in New York with students in grades 9 through 12 found that students who were bullied had more signs of depression and mental stress than those who were not bullied. Being involved in bullying, whether as a victim, bully, or both, is linked to depression even years later. A follow-up study in Finland showed that teens who were bullied had higher levels of depression and thoughts about suicide than those who were not bullied. A study in the Netherlands found that boys who were both victims and bullies were more likely to have depression or serious thoughts about suicide than boys who were only victims or bullies. Girls who were involved in any type of bullying had a higher risk of depression. A study in Boston found that high school students who were bullied were more likely to think about suicide than those who were not bullied. The same study showed that students who were bullies, victims, or both also had a higher risk of thinking about suicide. Victims and those who are both victims and bullies are more likely to try to take their own lives. Where students live also matters: those in urban areas who are both bullied and bullies may have higher risks of thinking about suicide or trying to take their lives. A national survey of American students in grades 6 through 10 found that students who were cyberbullied had more depression than those bullied in other ways. This may be because of the hidden nature of online bullying. If a teen is being bullied and shows signs of depression, it should be addressed with help. A study in Denmark found that students who talked to parents or teachers about bullying often saw a decrease or stop in bullying. The study highlights the importance of schools working with programs to stop bullying and help those affected. It also shows the need for parents and teachers to talk to bullies about their behavior to support victims.

Some people believe bullying can teach life lessons and build strength. Helene Guldberg, a child development expert, caused debate when she said being bullied could help children learn to handle conflicts and improve social skills, and that teachers should not stop bullying. Others argue this only applies to normal disagreements, not bullying.

Teaching anti-bullying skills to children, parents, and teachers has been shown to reduce bullying over time and help people deal with it better.

After considering age and puberty, studies found that girls who were verbally bullied had lower levels of testosterone than those not bullied, while boys who were verbally bullied had higher levels of testosterone than those not bullied.

Dark triad

Research on the Dark Triad (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) shows a connection between these traits and bullying. Studies indicate that bullying behavior is linked to the Dark Triad traits. Among these traits, psychopathy has the strongest connection to bullying. This is because aggression tied to psychopathy often occurs without being triggered by others, unlike aggression linked to Machiavellianism or narcissism. This pattern is true for both traditional bullying and cyberbullying. Psychopathy has the strongest link, followed by Machiavellianism, and then narcissism. While narcissism has the weakest connection overall, it is still associated with bullying, especially in forms of indirect bullying rather than physical bullying.

Emotional intelligence

Bullying is unfair or harmful behavior between students that can include being mean, teasing, or using physical force. This behavior often happens again and again and is usually done by someone who has more control or influence over the person being bullied. Studies show that emotional intelligence (EI) is connected to bullying. Emotional intelligence includes the ability to recognize feelings, use emotions to help with thinking, understand emotions, and control emotions. This skill combines both emotional and mental abilities. People with lower emotional intelligence may be more likely to either bully others or be bullied. Emotional intelligence seems to affect both bullying actions and being a victim of bullying. Since emotional intelligence can be improved through learning, teaching emotional intelligence could help prevent and address bullying more effectively.

Context

Cyberbullying is bullying that happens using technology. It is hard to notice because adults, including parents, may not watch closely enough. Bullies can pretend to be someone else, making it the most secret type of bullying. Cyberbullying includes harmful messages sent through email, instant messaging, text messages, websites, and social media. Some groups work to stop cyberbullying.

People with disabilities are more likely to be bullied or abused, and this is sometimes considered a hate crime. Bullying can affect people with visible disabilities, like those who use wheelchairs or have physical differences, as well as those with hidden disabilities, such as autism or developmental coordination disorder.

People with learning disabilities often struggle to explain what happened to them. This makes it harder for others to believe them if they report bullying.

Gay bullying and gay bashing are actions, either spoken or physical, directed at someone who is gay or lesbian, or someone thought to be gay because of rumors or stereotypes. Gay and lesbian youth are more likely to be bullied than straight youth.

Legal bullying happens when someone uses unfair or repeated legal actions to control or punish another person. This can include lawsuits that are not based on strong legal reasons but are used to scare the person being sued. This type of action is sometimes called a SLAPP. Concerns about this led to protests in the United States in 2011 and 2012.

In 2000, the UK Ministry of Defence defined bullying as using physical strength or authority to intimidate or harm others, or to give unfair punishments.

Some people argue that bullying is acceptable in the military because soldiers are expected to face challenges. Others believe this is not fair.

Parents who take out their anger or need for control on their children may increase the chance that their children will act aggressively or try to control others. The American Psychological Association says parents should think about how they treat others, as this can influence their children’s behavior.

Prisons are places where bullying is common. The way staff treat inmates can also lead to bullying.

It is important to understand that school bullying, which aims to harm someone, is different from normal disagreements between students, which are part of growing up. Bullying is repeated and intentional, often by someone with more power. It can start with teasing and end with physical harm. Bystanders may join in or watch, sometimes out of fear.

Bullying can happen anywhere in or around a school, including during physical education, recess, hallways, bathrooms, on school buses, and during group activities. A 2011 documentary called Bully showed how bullying affects students at school and at home.

Teachers are important in stopping bullying because they spend time with students. However, teachers or schools can also bully students, using their power to hurt or exclude others, even while following anti-bullying rules.

In 2016, a Canadian court ruled that a school board was responsible for failing to protect a student from bullying. This was the first time a school board was found legally responsible for bullying in North America. A similar case happened in Australia in 2013.

Sexual bullying is any harmful behavior based on someone’s sexuality or gender. It can happen in person or through technology and is often directed at girls.

Trans bashing is bullying someone because they are transgender or transsexual. This is different from gay bashing, as it is based on someone’s gender identity, not their sexual orientation.

Workplace bullying is when an employee is treated unfairly over time, causing harm. This can include verbal, physical, or psychological abuse. Workplace bullies often follow company rules, making it harder to stop. Most cases involve someone in a position of power over the victim.

The term "workplace bullying" was first used in 1992 in a book by Andrea Adams.

Studies show that workplace bullying can affect not only the victim but also the whole organization. It may lower morale and change the workplace culture. Research suggests that programs to stop bullying may help, but evidence is limited.

Bullying in academia refers to…

Prevention

Bullying prevention is a group effort to stop bullying from happening, reduce how often it occurs, and stop it when it does. Many campaigns and events around the world are planned to help with bullying prevention. These include Anti-Bullying Day, Anti-Bullying Week, International Day of Pink, International STAND UP to Bullying Day, and National Bullying Prevention Month. In the United States, anti-bullying laws have been passed in 23 out of 50 states, making bullying in schools illegal.

A 2019 study by McCallion & Feder found that school-based anti-bullying programs may reduce the number of bullying incidents by 25%.

Bullying prevention programs help schools reduce cyberbullying, which is bullying that happens online. These programs focus mainly on middle school students, who experience the most bullying. To reduce cyberbullying, people must take steps to prevent it. One such step was tested in a program called "Media Heroes." This program showed that teaching teachers about bullying behaviors in schools helps them educate students and stop bullying. The program reduced bullying in schools. When trusted adults learn about what can happen online, they can help stop cyberbullying from happening again.

Responses

A study found that ignoring bullying often does not stop it and may let it get worse over time. It is important to deal with bullying early because it is easier to control when it is noticed sooner. People who see bullying, called bystanders, can help by taking action. If they do nothing, bullying may continue. Small actions that show disapproval can help reduce bullying.

People in positions of authority, such as parents or teachers for children and teens, or supervisors, human-resources staff, or parent groups in workplaces or volunteer settings, can help stop bullying. In schools, teachers who set clear rules, clearly state that bullying is not allowed, and work with school leaders have been shown to reduce bullying. Talking about bullying and its effects with the whole class can also help. This not only reduces bullying but also encourages other students to stop it before it gets worse. In general, authority figures can help by recognizing bullying, stopping it, and creating a safe environment that does not support bullying.

In some situations, authority figures may not be trained or know how to respond. This can make the problem worse. In some cases, these figures may even support the people bullying others, which can make the bullying continue and make the victim feel more alone. The most effective ways to respond are to recognize harmful behavior and create an environment where such behavior cannot continue.