FS-570

Bullies
When I was a young boy, What bullying is What bullying
the bully called me names,
stole my bicycle, forced With all the focus that has surrounded can look like in
me off the playground.
teenage gangs and gun violence, it may
be easy to forget that the teenage years
elementary school
He made fun of me in
are not the only times that children face Being a victim is the most common
front of other children,
violent behavior. In fact, aggressive in second grade, and the likelihood of
forced me to turn over
behavior and bullying are even more being bullied decreases each year after
my lunch money each day, that (see Figure 1). Bullies in elementary
common in elementary school than in
threatened to give me junior and senior high! Some studies school are more likely to pick on children
a black eye if I told suggest that around 20 percent of all younger than themselves. Bullying is
adult authority figures. American children have been the victim often very physical in nature, with open
At different times I was of bullying at some point in elementary attacks of aggression being the most
subject to a wide range of school, and about the same number common. Boys are more likely to be
degradation and abuse – have described themselves as engaging doing the bullying, but girls and boys
de-pantsing, spit in my face, in some form of bullying behavior. are equally likely to be victims.
forced to eat the playground Bullying can range from teasing, to
dirt....To this day, their stealing lunch money, to a group of
handprints, like a slap students physically abusing a classmate. What bullying
on the face, remain stark
Even though bullying is very similar to can look like in
and defined on my soul.
other forms of aggression, there can be junior high school
Eric E. Rofes – some distinctive features:
Making our Schools Safe for Sissies Bullies in junior high school are more
• The intention of bullying behavior likely to pick on people their same age,
is purposeful, rather than accidental with boys more likely to be both bullies
• The goal is to actually gain control and victims. Girls, when they do bully,
over another child through physical are more likely to verbally harass
or verbal aggression. someone than be physical. Boys
• Usually bullies make their attack sometimes use physical attacks, but
without any real reason, other than they are also more likely to threaten and
they see their victim as an easy target. harass one of their peers in a verbal way.
• Bullies are usually more popular
with their peers than children who
North Dakota State University are simply aggressive.
Fargo, North Dakota 58105

Reviewed and reprinted March 2009

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0–
Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9

Figure 1. Percentage of student in different grades who reported being bullied (being exposed to direct bullying).
(total number of boys = 42,390; total number of girls = 40,940.)

What it means to be a bully Peer rejection

Researchers who are interested in how children form
Living in a society where wealth and power are admired, relationships with their peers have identified four
film heroes regularly beat up and kill others, and the weak categories that describe how children relate to peers,
and sick are often despised, it is no surprise that some based on having children name children that they like
children have learned to imitate these values. Research has as well as children that they don t like:
shown that although bullies tend to have difficulty making
friends, they do gain a certain level of popularity and peer • Popular children are those that many children
status for their actions. It is possible that bullies may be say they like, and few children say that they dislike.
enjoying more respect and admiration from their peers, These children have developed positive social and
and bullying behavior, especially among boys, can often communication skills.
be considered normal behavior. • Controversial children are both actively liked and
disliked by many of their peers. They tend to have
good social skills, but also exhibit aggressive behavior.
Causes of bullying Class clowns often fit into this category.
• Rejected children are actively disliked by many of their
Parental relationship
peers and well liked by few of their peers. They show
Bullies tend to come from families that are characterized as
high rates of conflict, aggression, and immature play,
having little warmth or affection. These families also report and they have trouble taking the perspective of another
trouble sharing their feelings and usually rate themselves person. They also have a hard time solving problems
as feeling less close to each other. Parent of bullies also tend without resorting to violence. Rejected children are often
to use inconsistent discipline and little monitoring of where prone to delinquency and dropping out of school later.
their children are throughout the day. Sometimes parents
• Neglected children are seldom neither liked or disliked
of bullies have very punitive and rigid discipline styles, by their peers. Although they are very shy, and may
with physical punishment being very common. Bullies have low self-esteem, many neglected children do very
also report less feelings of closeness to their siblings. well in school and are able to develop friends as they
approach adolescence.
School failure
Bullies are usually not model students. Very often they are Bullies come most often from the rejected category,
not doing well in school and do not have good connections but they sometimes are popular children as well.
with their teachers. Victims can be selected from any category, although
neglected children often are more likely to be victims.
What it means to be a victim Long term effects of being a victim
The long term consequences of being a victim vary a good
Unfortunately in recent years, our attitudes have changed deal. Most victims of bullying do well in school and are
about what it means to be a victim. Many parents and able to make friends are they grow older. Most victims,
school officials are likely to blame victims of bullying for especially if they receive support from adults important in
being weak and not being able to stand up for themselves. their lives, survive the experience of being bullied without
This, coupled with the fact that victims are usually warned long term effects.
by bullies not to tell anyone, makes it difficult for them to
talk with parents and teachers. Short term effects of being a bully
Ten percent of children could be considered extreme Even though bullies are sometimes viewed positively by
victims who have been the victim of bullies at least their peers, they rarely are capable of maintaining close
once a week for a long period of time. These children friendships. They are usually not doing well in school
are often considered younger, weaker, or sicker by and not well liked by their teachers.
their peers. Victims are just as likely to be boys as girls.
They often report strong fears or dislike of going to school. Long term effects of being a bully
These children often report closer feelings to parents and Bullying is a behavior that is very often one of the first
siblings, but whether this causes them to be victims or steps to more serious problems. Unless some kind of
is simply how they cope with being bullied is unclear. intervention takes place, the aggression of bullying often
Being labeled a victim is likely to follow children around leads to more serious acts of delinquency and criminal
from year to year. Most extreme victims report having activity. Bullies are also more likely to use drugs and
few or no friends and being alone at recess and lunch. alcohol as adolescents.

Symptoms that a child might be a victim of bullying: Suggestions for working with bullies:
• acts moody, sullen, or withdraws from family interaction • Work in small groups. It is often helpful to place bullies
in groups with older children and have them engage in
• becomes depressed
cooperative tasks. It will be necessary to provide a great
• loses interest in school work, or grades drop deal of supervision.
• loses appetite or has difficulty getting to sleep • Reinforce children each time they engage in some
• waits to use the bathroom at home degree of caring or pro-social behavior. It will be easier
to establish more appropriate rules for interaction after
• arrives home with torn clothes, unexplained bruises
they learn that there are more positive ways to gain
• asks for extra money for school lunch or supplies, attention and affection.
extra allowance
• Often children who are having a hard time relating to
• refuses to go to school (15 percent of all school other children can learn some social skills with pets.
absenteeism is directly related to fears of being Under close supervision, bullies may learn to care for
bullied at school) and show affection to a dog or cat.
• wants to carry a protection item, such as a knife • Work with families to determine ways they can show
warmth and affection to their children, and seek to

Consequences of bullying develop a more consistent set of discipline. Sometimes

it is helpful for families to become more involved in
Short term effects of being a victim community activities and become friends with other
Being a victim is very stressful for children. Many children parents.
develop a strong dislike of going to school, especially times
like recess or gym class. Many victims begin to distrust all Suggestions for working with victims:
their peers at school and have problems making friends. • Often victims, particularly those who have been
Extreme victims can develop depression or physical illness. victimized many times, are withdrawn and are afraid
of social interaction. These children often profit from
social interactions with younger children, where they
may be less afraid to open up or show some leadership.
• Practice with kids some strategies of ways they can
respond when being bullied. Help them identify times
when they are likely to be harassed, and see if there are
 ways to avoid those situations. Determine the exact What parents can do:
nature of the bullying behavior, and help them • Create a safe environment for your children to tell you
practice some things to say or do. Here are some about being bullied. Many times kids are embarrassed
specific strategies: to tell their parents what happened, thinking that their
– Laugh or ignore comments or teasing. Bullies delight in parents will blame them. Sometimes kids at school pick on
you being scared and getting a big reaction. Eventually other kids or say mean things to them. Does this ever happen
they will leave you alone. to you at school?
– Tell them to buzz off or shout GO AWAY!! Say it as • Reinforce the idea that if they are being bullied, it is
angrily as you can and walk away immediately. not their fault. Don’t make your child feel like a wimp.
Practice in the mirror. The person that is picking on you is the one with a problem,
– Stay with a crowd – bullies usually pick on kids who are not you. Bullies pick on people for no real reason, but it is
alone. Suggest that children walk to school or sit on the just because they have problems of their own, not because
bus with someone who can protect them. of anything you have done.
– If you are alone with a crowd that picks on you, ask him • Don t teach your kids to hit or fight back; it will only
or her why she is mean to you. make things worse. Here are five steps that are be good
to suggest:
• For both groups, it is helpful to pair them up with
– Ignore
children who are neither bullies nor victims, as they
– Move away
can be great teachers of appropriate behavior.
– Ask to stop
– Tell firmly to stop
What schools can do:
– Tell an adult.
• Get an accurate assessment of the problem. An
anonymous survey is a very effective way to learn
• Notify teachers whenever an incident happens, be
about the true nature of a problem at a particular school.
prepared to be persistent until some action is taken!
• Maintain higher visibility. Most schools report that most Ask the teacher: Would it be possible to have the class
of their bullying problems disappear when playgrounds, get involved in a discussion about bullies, or to separate
bathrooms, etc., are properly monitored. Supervising my child from those who are bothering them?
recess is especially important.
• If your child is unwilling to report another child’s behav-
• Have students develop class rules about bullying that ior to a teacher, offer to make the complaint yourself.
are then consistently reinforced. It is important to start Stress that it can be done in a way that is confidential.
this in very early grades to gain a handle on this problem
before it gets out of control.
Resources
• Conduct in-service training for both teachers and Verdine Ryder (Family Life Educator). Beat the bully problem.
parents. Stress that bullying is not just boys being boys This book provides self-help skill and pro-active solutions
or high spirited behavior but potentially damaging for of bullying behavior. Cost $5.95, call 713-871-3172 to order.
both victims and bullies. Bullying is not something that G.M. Batsche and H.M. Knoff. Bullies and their victims:
people grow out of, but one of the first signs of more Understanding a pervasive problem in the schools.
serious problems. It is also important to remember that School Psychology Review, 23, 2, 165-174.
verbal harassment can be just as scary and intimidating
as physical attacks.
• Have serious talks with bullies, and make them realize Laura DeHaan, Ph.D.
that you are aware of their behavior and are not going Assistant Professor of Child Development, NDSU
to tolerate it. It is also important to develop ways to Reviewed and revised by
help them learn more positive social skills. Sean Brotherson, Ph.D.
Family Science Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

For more information on this and other topics, see: www.ag.ndsu.edu

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