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Bullying: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Bullying
In the 1530s, the word bully meant sweetheart, a term of endearment applied to either sex, derived from a root meaning lover or brother. By the 17th century, the meaning had deteriorated through fine fellow and blusterer to become harasser of the weak, a shift that mirrors the evolution of human social dynamics from communal protection to individual predation. The verb to bully was first attested in 1710, marking the moment language crystallized the behavior we now recognize as systemic abuse. Theodore Roosevelt later coined the phrase bully for you in 1907 as a deprecating term, yet today the bully pulpit refers to the use of a high position to influence public thought, demonstrating how language itself has been weaponized to describe power imbalances. This linguistic journey from affection to aggression sets the stage for understanding how bullying is not merely a modern phenomenon but a deeply embedded human behavior that has evolved alongside our social structures.
The Psychology Of The Aggressor
Research on the self-esteem of bullies has produced equivocal results, revealing that while some bullies are arrogant and narcissistic, they can also use bullying as a tool to conceal shame or anxiety or to boost self-esteem. Psychologist Roy Baumeister asserts that people who are prone to abusive behavior tend to have inflated but fragile egos, reacting to perceived disrespect with violence and insults. Brain studies have shown that the section of the brain associated with reward becomes active when bullies are shown a video of someone inflicting pain on another, suggesting that the act of bullying provides a neurological reward. Studies have shown that bullying behavior is positively correlated with Dark Triad traits, with psychopathy being most strongly correlated to bullying. This holds true in traditional bullying as well as with cyberbullying, where aggression related to psychopathy is more likely to be unprovoked than Machiavellianism and narcissism. The combination of antisocial traits and depression was found to be the best predictor of youth violence, whereas video game violence and television violence exposure were not predictive of these behaviors. These findings suggest that bullying is not simply a learned behavior but may be rooted in genetic predisposition or brain abnormalities, challenging the notion that it is purely a product of environmental factors.
The Silent Witnesses And The Mob
Often, bullying takes place in the presence of a large group of relatively uninvolved bystanders, creating an illusion that the bully has the support of the majority present. In many cases, it is the bully's ability to create this illusion that instills the fear of speaking out in protestation of the bullying activities being observed by the group. Unless the bully mentality is effectively challenged in any given group in its early stages, it often becomes an accepted, or supported, norm within the group. The bystander effect suggests that the more bystanders there are, the less individual responsibility each one feels to take action. Research indicates that adults who bully have authoritarian personalities, combined with a strong need to control or dominate, and that a prejudicial view of subordinates can be a particularly strong risk factor. In mobbing, a group of young adults will target and alienate a peer because of some adolescent prejudice, which can quickly lead to a situation where they are being taunted, tortured, and beaten up by their classmates. This collective behavior is often reinforced by positive feedback such as laughing, which serves to validate the bully's actions and silence dissent. The presence of bystanders is not merely passive; it is an active component of the bullying dynamic, transforming individual aggression into a systemic cultural phenomenon.
Common questions
When did the word bully first mean sweetheart?
In the 1530s, the word bully meant sweetheart, a term of endearment applied to either sex, derived from a root meaning lover or brother. By the 17th century, the meaning had deteriorated through fine fellow and blusterer to become harasser of the weak. The verb to bully was first attested in 1710, marking the moment language crystallized the behavior we now recognize as systemic abuse.
What psychological traits are most strongly correlated with bullying behavior?
Studies have shown that bullying behavior is positively correlated with Dark Triad traits, with psychopathy being most strongly correlated to bullying. Psychologist Roy Baumeister asserts that people who are prone to abusive behavior tend to have inflated but fragile egos, reacting to perceived disrespect with violence and insults. The combination of antisocial traits and depression was found to be the best predictor of youth violence.
How does the presence of bystanders affect bullying incidents?
Often, bullying takes place in the presence of a large group of relatively uninvolved bystanders, creating an illusion that the bully has the support of the majority present. The bystander effect suggests that the more bystanders there are, the less individual responsibility each one feels to take action. The presence of bystanders is not merely passive; it is an active component of the bullying dynamic, transforming individual aggression into a systemic cultural phenomenon.
What are the long-term mental health consequences of being bullied?
Individuals who are persistently subjected to abusive behavior are at risk of stress related illness which can sometimes lead to suicide. Those who have been the targets of bullying can develop long-term emotional and behavioral problems, including loneliness, depression, anxiety, and increased susceptibility to illness. It is estimated that between 15 and 25 children die by suicide every year in the UK alone because they are being bullied.
When was the first known documented use of workplace bullying?
The first known documented use of workplace bullying is in 1992 in a book by Andrea Adams called Bullying at Work: How to Confront and Overcome It. Workplace bullying occurs when an employee experiences a persistent pattern of mistreatment from others in the workplace that causes harm, often perpetrated by someone in authority over the target. Bullying in the medical profession is common, particularly of student or trainee doctors and of nurses.
Which legal case set a North American precedent for school board negligence in 2016?
In 2016, in Canada, a North American legal precedent was set by a mother and her son, after the son was bullied in his public school. The mother and son won a court case against the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, making this the first case in North America where a school board has been found negligent in a bullying case for failing to meet the standard of care. There has been only one other similar bullying case and it was won in Australia in 2013.
Cyberbullying involves the use of technology, typically the internet, in order to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person, creating a new dimension of abuse that is difficult to detect because of lack of authoritative supervision. The internet provides people with limited accountability and often with no filter, making bullying feel easier and less restrictive through the use of the internet. This phenomenon is described and detailed in a principle called the online disinhibition effect, where the anonymity of the digital world emboldens aggressors to act in ways they would never dare in person. Cyberbullying includes abuse using email, instant messaging, text messaging, websites, and social networking sites, and it is more common in secondary school than in primary school. The information published online will often remain there indefinitely, unless it is taken down or removed by the person who published it, or by moderators of the website or web platform. Future employers and other people with access to the internet will be able to see others' digital footprint and how individuals behaved or treated other people, creating long-term consequences for victims. A study by The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health medical journal in 2019 showed a relationship between social media use by girls and an increase in their exposure to bullying, highlighting the gendered nature of this digital threat. The anonymity behind social media allows bullies to pose as someone else, making it the most anonymous form of bullying and complicating efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
The Cost Of Silence And The Weight Of Suffering
There is a growing body of research which indicates that individuals, whether child or adult, who are persistently subjected to abusive behavior are at risk of stress related illness which can sometimes lead to suicide. Those who have been the targets of bullying can develop long-term emotional and behavioral problems, including loneliness, depression, anxiety, and increased susceptibility to illness. Bullying has also been shown to cause maladjustment in young children, and targets of bullying who were also bullies themselves exhibit even greater social difficulties. A mental health report also found that bullying was linked to eating disorders, anxiety, body dysmorphia and other negative psychological effects. Even though there is evidence that bullying increases the risk of suicide, bullying alone does not cause suicide; depression is one of the main reasons why children who are bullied die by suicide. It is estimated that between 15 and 25 children die by suicide every year in the UK alone because they are being bullied. Certain groups seem to incur a higher risk for suicide, such as Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Asian Americans, and LGBT people. When someone feels unsupported by family or friends, it can make the situation much worse for the victim. The place where youth live also appears to differentiate their bullying experiences such that those living in more urban areas who reported both being bullied and bullying others appear to show higher risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. The psychological toll of bullying extends far beyond the immediate incident, creating a legacy of trauma that can persist into adulthood.
The Hidden Fronts Of Abuse
Bullying is not confined to schoolyards or playgrounds; it permeates every corner of human interaction, from the workplace to the prison cell, from the medical profession to the courtroom. Workplace bullying occurs when an employee experiences a persistent pattern of mistreatment from others in the workplace that causes harm, often perpetrated by someone in authority over the target. The first known documented use of workplace bullying is in 1992 in a book by Andrea Adams called Bullying at Work: How to Confront and Overcome It. In the medical profession, bullying is common, particularly of student or trainee doctors and of nurses, thought to be at least in part an outcome of conservative traditional hierarchical structures and teaching methods. Bullying in the legal profession is believed to be more common than in some other professions, with women, trainees and solicitors who have been qualified for five years or less being more affected. The prison environment is known for bullying, with possible scenarios including inmate bullies inmate, staff bullies inmate, staff bullies staff, and inmate bullies staff. Disabled people are disproportionately affected by bullying and abuse, and such activity has been cited as a hate crime, affecting not only those who are visibly disabled but also those with developmental disabilities such as autism and developmental coordination disorder. The prevalence of bullying in these diverse settings underscores the universality of the behavior and the need for context-specific interventions.
The Legal And Cultural Battlegrounds
In the United Kingdom, there is no legal definition of the term bullying, while some states in the United States currently have laws specifically against it. In 2016, in Canada, a North American legal precedent was set by a mother and her son, after the son was bullied in his public school. The mother and son won a court case against the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, making this the first case in North America where a school board has been found negligent in a bullying case for failing to meet the standard of care. There has been only one other similar bullying case and it was won in Australia in 2013. Legal bullying is the bringing of a vexatious legal action to control and punish a person, often taking the form of frivolous, repetitive, or burdensome lawsuits brought to intimidate the defendant into submitting to the litigant's request. It was partially concern about the potential for this kind of abuse that helped to fuel the protests against SOPA and PIPA in the United States in 2011 and 2012. The 2011 documentary Bully showcases the lives of five American public school students who face bullying in school and while on the school bus, highlighting the real-world impact of these legal and cultural battles. The legal system's response to bullying has evolved from a lack of definition to active intervention, reflecting a growing societal recognition of the harm caused by these behaviors and the need for accountability.
The Path Forward And The Hope For Change
Bullying prevention is the collective effort to prevent, reduce and stop bullying, with many campaigns and events designated to bullying prevention throughout the world, including Anti-Bullying Day, Anti-Bullying Week, International Day of Pink, International STAND UP to Bullying Day and National Bullying Prevention Month. A 2019 study by McCallion & Feder found that school-based anti-bullying programs may lower the incidence of bullying by 25%. Bullying prevention programs allow schools to help decrease cyberbullying within the realm of school, with prevention methods targeted mainly for middle schoolers, where we see the most bullying occur. One preventative method was implemented to determine the effectiveness against cyberbullying, a program called Media Heroes, which showed how educating teachers on bullying behaviors in school can help them educate and stop students from bullying. Having trusted adults become educated on what can go on online can help prevent further cyberbullying. Research indicates that adults who bully have authoritarian personalities, combined with a strong need to control or dominate, and that a prejudicial view of subordinates can be a particularly strong risk factor. The teaching of anti-bullying coping skills to children, carers and teachers has been found to be an effective long-term means of reducing bullying incidence rates and a valuable skill-set for individuals. The presence of bystanders is not merely passive; it is an active component of the bullying dynamic, transforming individual aggression into a systemic cultural phenomenon. The path forward requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the psychological, social, and legal dimensions of bullying, fostering a culture of empathy and accountability.