The different types of bullying can be broadly categorized into several forms, each with distinct characteristics:
- Physical Bullying : This involves harming a person's body or possessions through actions such as hitting, kicking, tripping, pushing, biting, pinching, or damaging belongings. It is the most obvious form of bullying and often involves a power imbalance where the bully is bigger or stronger than the victim
- Verbal Bullying : This includes using spoken or written words to insult, tease, threaten, or demean someone. Examples are name-calling, teasing, sarcastic remarks, offensive comments, and threats. Verbal bullying can be subtle and often occurs out of sight of adults, making it harder to detect
- Relational (Social) Bullying : Also known as social bullying or relational aggression, it aims to damage a person's reputation or relationships. This can involve spreading rumors, excluding someone from groups, embarrassing them publicly, or manipulating social connections. It is often more covert and insidious than physical or verbal bullying
- Cyberbullying : This form uses digital technology such as social media, text messages, emails, and websites to harass, threaten, or humiliate someone. Cyberbullying can be anonymous and hidden from adults, making it particularly challenging to address
- Sexual Bullying : Involves unwanted physical contact or abusive sexual comments. It can include inappropriate touching, sexual harassment, or sexualized name-calling
- Prejudicial Bullying : This type targets individuals based on aspects such as race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics. It includes racial slurs, mocking cultural customs, offensive gestures, or discriminatory remarks
These types often overlap, and bullying can happen repeatedly with an imbalance of power between the bully and the victim. Bullying is not limited to children; adults can also be perpetrators
. In summary, the main types of bullying are:
- Physical bullying
- Verbal bullying
- Relational (social) bullying
- Cyberbullying
- Sexual bullying
- Prejudicial bullying
Recognizing these forms is crucial for effective intervention and support for victims