Bullying

 What is Bullying?

The behaviour of a person who hurts or frightens someone smaller or less powerful, often forcing that person to do something they do not want to do: Bullying is a problem in many schools.

Whether bullying is physical, verbal, or social (relational), four widely-accepted factors can be used to identify it:

Bullying is deliberate - harming another person intentionally.

Bullying involves a misuse of power in a relationship.

Bullying is usually not a one-off - it is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated over time

Bullying involves behaviour that can cause harm - it is not a normal part of growing up.

Physical bullying:

This involves hurting someone, or damaging or stealing their belongings. It includes:

• hitting, kicking, pinching, spitting, biting
• tripping, shoving or intimidating another person
• mean or rude hand gestures
• touching another person when they don't want you to
• being made afraid of being hurt
• stealing or damaging possesions.

Verbal bullying 

This involves saying or writing mean things. It includes:

• name calling
• teasing someone in a hurtful way
• making fun of someone
• being sarcastic in a hurtful way
• offensive comments, insults or jokes about someone and their family because of their race, culture, religion, disability or sexuality.
• mean comments about someone's body or physical characteristics such as their weight or height
• hurtful comments about the way someone looks or behaves
• inappropriate sexual comments
• taunting
• threatening to cause harm.

Social bullying

This involves hurting someone's relationships or reputation. It includes:

• ignoring or leaving someone out on purpose
• telling others not to be friends with someone
• spreading rumours about someone
• destroying relationships and friendships
• embarassing someone in public
• sharing information or images that will have a harmful effect on the other person
• telling lies or stories about someone to make others not like them.