Bullying is currently a widely reported issue in many schools globally. However, despite being reported the problem has been neglected and handled poorly in most of the schools with most victims keeping it for themselves due to fear of further victimization (Harris and Petrie 23). The solution to bullying cannot be achieved unless the parents, teachers, the education system and society as a whole begin to take it seriously. Tackling a situation from the cause is better than the solution; therefore, we shouldn’t approach this issue solely focusing on punishing the bullies but also to address the reasons as to why some children intimidate and humiliate others in the first place. For our children to successfully escape from the horrors of bullying, we need to determine what causes school bullying and the effects it poses on children. This research shows how to unravel the causes of bullying and their effects extensively.
Bullying can be defined differently according to the context in which it is used. "Bullying is repeated aggression in which one or more persons intend to harm or disturb another person physically, verbally or psychologically” (Menesini, and Christina 243). In a school set up, it can be considered as the depiction of an aggressive behavioral pattern confined among teenagers and school going children which is associated with the existing power imbalance. School bullying has been a topic in the educational sector for decades now as it has a characteristic to be repeated over time (Tenner). It usually takes place among young individuals within the same social setting either friends or of the same age. Children who commit these acts make use of their popularity, access to private information, and physical strength to control, intimidate and even physically harm others. Bullying in schools occurs in different modes with some cases being blatantly obvious while others are a bit more discreet. Among the most common forms of bullying include physical, verbal, social, and the latest one-- cyberbullying. Physical harassment is quite, and it encompasses pushing, pinching, kicking, tripping and even hitting or damaging the property of the victim. Physical bullying can have both long-term and short-term effects on the victim (Peck). Besides, touching the victim in some inappropriate ways is also considered as a form of bullying. Verbal bullying comprises an act such as intimidating, mocking, insulting, name-calling, racist and even homophobic remarks. Verbal bullying is also mainly characterized by verbal abuses. Although oral statements might sound harmless when repeatedly done highly harms the individual target. Think of it as continually rubbing your finger on your skin. It seems safe at first, but eventually, the skin will become inflamed, cause discomfort and eventually break. For example, if someone tells you to look ugly, it cannot be considered as bullying. However, if it such statements are made repeatedly to someone then it is regarded as bullying for it leads to low self-esteem to the victim. Other ways in which bullying can occur include public embarrassment, spreading rumors about someone (both true and false), teasing, taunting, and threatening an individual.
Social bullying also known as covert bullying is another bullying experienced in schools. This form of bullying is quite challenging to recognize as it can occur behind the bullied person’s back. It is aimed at destroying one’s social reputation leading to humiliation. Social bullying comprises unkind mimicking, spreading rumors or lies about someone. Other acts of social bullying include a negative body or facial gestures, contemptuous or menacing looks.
Consequently, cyberbullying is another type of bullying which is more sophisticated as it utilizes digital tech including smartphone, computers and social media platforms, websites, texts, instant messaging. Cyber bullying might be both covert and overt. This behavior can occur at any time and place (private or public) only known by the one who is initiating the bullying. Cyberbullying encompasses nasty rumors and gossips and excluding others deliberately online. Cyberbullies can also use hurtful and abusive posts or emails, videos or images causing psychological harm to the victim (Peck). A good example is the case of Amada Todd which was among the news headlines in 2012 where she shared her topless photos to a stranger and ended up sharing to all her friends (BBC News). The results were that she ended up taking her life. Such indicated the extent to what cyberbullying can be harmful to its victims.
Often, children who have bullying behaviors spring from dysfunctional families; this is not to mean growing up in these types of situations only spawn the aggressors, but these families also form victims as well (Georgiou 112). Nevertheless, children who practice bullying mostly come from families who show little devotion and affection to the child. Their parents might be bad role models. The parents might display aggressive or hostile behaviors to the child, siblings, or even each other. As a result, their children emulate similar behaviors and simulate them with their peers. Such indicates that a large number of acts of bullying done by bullies is just a copy of what they have either experienced from their parents or even exposed by the environment they live (Tenner).
In most cases, bullies are after enjoying their acts of oppression to victims through seeing them suffer (Maliki et al. 213). If this is not achieved, they always continue until they face some resistance from the victims. Whenever the victim surrenders, the offender is rewarded. Through the act of bullying, tormenters seek to gain popularity as well as the feeling of being feared among the victims and peers. However, the behavior does not stop once they receive this gratification because the feeling has to continue and if it stops, then they might feel torn or feel lacking something. Individuals who bully others find it hard to regulate their emotions. Normally, humans can adequately manage their emotions whenever they feel irritated or agitated to prevent themselves from causing harm to others. On the contrary, it is hard for children to have control over their feelings. When provoked, they can sometimes overreact and sometimes in a severe manner. For example, a child might bump into a bully while walking down the hallway. Despite the child apologizing to the bully, the bully due to his uncontrollable behavior, might shout at or hit the child. Once the incident happens, the reaction of the child upon being hit or shouted at is what will make the bully to calm down (Merrick and Srabstein 34).
Bullying in schools creates an atmosphere of fear among students, parents, and even the teachers. The parents fear their children might be oppressed and thus due to the protective nature seek for schools without the reputation of bullying. Besides, if parents hear of bullying cases from their children, they might even request for transfer to other better school for the safety of their children. Or who can be pleased to hear that their child was bullied? This is because they are pretty much aware of the effects such behaviors have to school children. Bullying affects students learning process and may also leave them with life trauma which parents highly protects their students against (Merrick and Srabstein 54).
School bullying effects can be quite extensive. Basing from the mental point of view, this behavior severely affects students’ self-esteem in the long term. Children who had been victims of intimidation and constant threats often happen to suffer from depression and anxiety, especially if the harassment took place for a prolonged period (Pappas). The children might face some psychological issues such as loneliness, low self-esteem and even elevated potential of falling ill. Such issues could continue to the person’s adulthood. There is a need to understand that the effects associated with bullying are not confined to just the victim, but also extends to the aggressor as well. Individuals who were used to bullying others for a long time might face various issues such as social, academic and mental health problems.
As stated by Maliki and her colleges the academic performance of the child is significantly affected as a result of bullying. When the child repeatedly suffers under the hands of a bully and lack assistance from their teachers, they might increase cases of absenteeism. Their grades which were high might suffer immensely due to being absent from school or their inability to fully concentrate on studies. The National Education Association asserts that “bullying impacts approximately 13 million students every year, and some 160,000 students stay home from school each day because of bullying” (Bradshaw et al.). Ultimately, some of these children are prone to dropping out of school altogether. It is quite unfortunate as some schools fail to help children who face bullying. Bullying might impact the relationship between the victims and their friends and parents. Such effects might make the child fail to trust other people and isolate him/her self. These victims might also feel justified to attack other children as a way of seeking to revenge of their traumatizing past under the hands of their insulters to reduce their stress. In turn, the victim becomes the bully.
Apart from psychological effects, bullying also leads to physical effects (Conners et al. 559). When children play, they can get scrapes or the usual bumps. However, bullying is another case which results to extremities such as bruises, scratches, and scars which is a clear depiction that the child might have been bullied or was involved in a fight. Besides, the child might demonstrate a lack of appetite or loss of sleep. This is due to prolonged anxiety and fear which is caused by bullying.
There is a lot of neglect when it comes to helping children facing bullying from their peers. According to Thomas Kuzma, in Australia, only 4% of the reported bullying cases have had educators’ intervention. This shows how shocking the educational institution has turned a blind eye in some practices which have been occurring for centuries and have been proven harmful to the rest of society. Many children have opted for homeschooling for fear of being bullied while at school. Kuzna goes further to state that in the United States, students and especially those with autism get bullied 43.6% of the time. Teachers claim that they often intervene, but the statistics prove otherwise with only 4%-14% cases intervened.
Despite most bullying victims keeping it to themselves, how can bullying be identified? Such are among the challenges faced by educators in fighting bullying in schools. However, Conners and his colleges indicate that parents, caregivers, as well as teachers, can identify bullying in students from the signs victims in different ways. Apart from bruises and other physical scratches, the presence of damaged or missing clothes or even constant complaints of stomachaches and headaches could indicate the student was bullied. Signs of withdrawal, depression, mood swings, lack of appetite and sleep, as well tendency to avoid going to school could also indicate bullying among students. Besides, behavioral change and shift in performance in students could also be signs that the child is a victim of bullying.
In conclusion, there is a need to end bullying as it poses negative impacts on society. Eliminating bullying can be achieved by setting a code of conduct and clear rules which can be easily enforced. The laid down rules should be affirmed and in a very minimal number. Any positive behavior in schools as well in the society should be rewarded. Besides, there needs to be open communication in the classroom as well as the outside classroom. Open communication promotes understanding among the parties involved and hence eliminates conflicts. Parents and teachers also need to demonstrate cohesiveness by assisting each other in encouraging good behaviors among the children.
Works Cited
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