About Bullying

Bullying is when a person or a group shows unwanted aggression toward another person.1 To be considered bullying, the behavior in question must be aggressive.2 The behavior must also involve an imbalance of power (e.g., physical strength, popularity, access to embarrassing details about a person) and be repetitive, meaning that it happens more than once or is highly likely to be repeated.2

Bullying can be2:

  • Physical: punching, beating, kicking, or pushing; stealing, hiding, or damaging another person's belongings; forcing someone to do things against his or her will
  • Verbal: teasing, calling names, or insulting another person; threatening another person with physical harm; spreading rumors or untrue statements about another person
  • Relational: refusing to talk to someone or making them feel left out; encouraging other individuals to bully someone

Bullying also includes cyberbullying and workplace bullying.

  • Cyberbullying has increased with the increased use of the social media sites, the Internet, e-mail, and mobile devices.3 Unlike more traditional bullying, cyberbullying can be more anonymous and can occur nearly constantly.3 A person can be cyberbullied day or night, such as when they are checking their e mail, using Facebook or another social network site, or even when they are using a mobile phone.3
  • Workplace bullying refers to adult behavior that is repeatedly aggressive and involves the use of power over another person at the workplace.4 Certain laws apply to adults in the workplace to help prevent such violence. Read more from CDC about occupational violence and laws to prevent it.
 

Citations

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Featured topic: bullying research. Retrieved on January 28, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/bullyingresearch/
  2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (.). What is bullying? Bullying definition. Retrieved on August 7, 2012, from http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/
  3. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (2010). Taking a stand against bullying. Retrieved on August 7, 2012, from http://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/resources/spotlight/092110-taking-stand-against-bullying
  4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Workplace bullying. Retrieved on August 7, 2012, from http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/related-topics/index.html#workplace
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