Bullies: Who Are They, Why Do They Bully and Who Are Their Targets?

Bullies: Who are they, why do
they bully and who are their

targets?
Quick Sketch
On a piece of paper, draw a quick
sketch of the initial image that
comes to your mind when thinking
about a bully.
Media influence?
• ‘Stereotypical bullies’
what are their traits?
• TV Shows that have stereotypical bullies…
Video: “I said Ha Ha”

Wouldn't it be great to peek inside someone's
head, reading his or her thoughts?
…Let's take a look inside

a bully's head.
It helps us understand why he or she acts the way

she does, and also helps us know how to deal with
it.
WHO are they?
Anyone can be a bully…
If we looked even more inside a person's
head, we'd probably find some extra reasons
why he or she is acting like a bully…
I’ve watched my
parents & older
siblings get their
way by being
angry or pushing
other people
around
I’m having problems in
my life. I’m struggling
with school and
homework & my family
aren’t supportive.
I’m being
bullied myself-
by my brother
and my
sister…I’m
even being
bullied by my
teacher
I’m exposed to a lot of
violence in my family and in
movies, TV, and video
games.
Why do bullies bully?
There are various main reasons why students engage in bullying behaviour
towards peers. Sometimes, several of these operate together
• They don’t fit in - Nelson

• Peer pressure
• No sense of remorse for hurting another child or they
are in an immature stage of moral development
• They do not realise what they are really doing because
they lack awareness of the damages it can cause to
others.
• They get caught up in peer-group dynamics
– Ringleaders
– Urgers
– Bystanders
Why do bullies bully? Cont…
• Wanting to show off
• Feeling upset or angry
• They may get bullied themselves and are now ‘passing
it on’
• greater than average aggressive behaviour patterns
• Having fear of being bullied themselves: Bullies are
anxious about criticism so they tend to criticise first
(protecting themselves).
• need to feel in control, to win
• Bullies are afraid of anyone that's different to them.
• Not necessarily due to low self-esteem or insecurity
Gender Differences
Girls are more likely to participate in social bullying

- exclusion
- isolation
- name-calling
- insults
- put-down
WHY?
Desire to be socially powerful over other girls
and to demonstrate their popularity.
Boys are more likely to bully through physical
actions but also frequently use name-calling and
insults. The insults are usually untrue and are often
based around these five themes:
- Homosexuality
- Being overweight
- Being uncoordinated
- Having no friends
- Being ‘uncool’
WHY?
motivated by a desire for dominance over another and to
‘show off’ this toughness and dominance over other boys
Who are their targets?
• Any students can be bullied depending on
circumstances and school cultures but those
who are more likely to be a target to bullies are:
• shy, emotional and anxious and provide
emotional reactions.
• poorly coordinated
• Lack peer support
• Have a ‘short fuse’
• Non-aggressive
• Physical differences
• It is to believe that students who
repeatedly engage in bullying are more
likely to become antisocial and unpleasant
adults and that bullying which continues
without resolution creates cultures of
tension, fear, guilt and cruelty.
(Bounce Back, )
More statistics…
• Bullying most often occurs in the last years of primary and the first couple of years
at high school.
• Males typically report being the bully or being the victim more
than females.
• Children with positive relationships with their parents are less likely to bully.
• Around 85% of bullying incidents happen within

peer groups.
• Although much bullying goes unreported, it is estimated that

in the average school an incident of bullying occurs
approximately once every seven minutes
More statistics…Cont…
Effects of children who have been a bully:
• People who bully are more likely to drop out of school,

use drugs and alcohol and engage in criminal behaviour.
• Young people who bully have a one in four chance of

having a criminal record by the age of 30.
• Positive and supportive school relationships between

principals, teachers, students and parents can have a
positive impact on reducing bullying.
Percentage of students who reported bullying others in
the past two months (2004).
•
• Source: Pepler, D, et al. (2004)
What can educators do to help stop
children bullying others?
To stop bullying in schools, teachers

can employ techniques within their
classrooms and throughout the
school.
• Establish Rules
• Awareness Activities.
• Make anti-bullying part of one of your lessons:
groups
• Team Effort: Whole-school approaches to
prevent bullying.
• Survey Students.
• Be approachable: have meetings with students
to discuss bullying issues
• Provide students strategies to deal with
bullying and ways bullies can change.
What do teachers need to know?
• Many teachers encounter difficulties when
they attempt to intervene in bullying that is
taking place at the moment. How would
you react to situations?
• We are their influence…

Teacher bystander responses to
bullies in the school environment
• If you are the bully...
Make a Commitment to Change!
• Remember: You don't have to be

like everyone around you, but you
have to treat everyone with
respect.
~
Resourses: See blog
resilientme.wordpress.com/resources/
References: Please refer to extended

notes on blog:
http://resilientme.wordpress.com/ta
g/karina-davies/

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Bullies: Who are they, why do

they bully and who are their

• TV Shows that have stereotypical bullies…

Video: “I said Ha Ha”

…Let's take a look inside

It helps us understand why he or she acts the way

• They don’t fit in - Nelson

Girls are more likely to participate in social bullying

• Around 85% of bullying incidents happen within

• Although much bullying goes unreported, it is estimated that

• People who bully are more likely to drop out of school,

• Young people who bully have a one in four chance of

• Positive and supportive school relationships between

To stop bullying in schools, teachers

• We are their influence…

• Remember: You don't have to be

References: Please refer to extended

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