Bullying looks like various harmful behaviors that can happen anywhere—at school, home, work, or online. It includes physical actions like hitting, kicking, or shoving; verbal acts such as name-calling, teasing, or threatening; social exclusion like leaving someone out or spreading rumors; and cyberbullying, which involves harassment through digital means like social media or messaging. Bullying can also include targeting someone based on race, religion, gender, disability, or other personal characteristics. It often involves repeated and intentional actions meant to cause distress and harm, ranging from physical aggression to psychological and emotional abuse.
Common Signs of Bullying Behavior
- Talking badly about someone behind their back, spreading lies or rumors.
- Teasing, calling names, making rude gestures.
- Physically hurting someone by pushing or hitting.
- Excluding someone from groups or activities.
- Harassing or intimidating someone based on identity factors online or in person.
- Posting mean or embarrassing content about someone online.
Types of Bullying
- Physical bullying: Hitting, kicking, shoving, damaging property.
- Verbal bullying: Name-calling, insults, threats, hurtful teasing.
- Social bullying: Exclusion, gossiping, damaging reputations.
- Cyberbullying: Harassment or attacks using digital communication.
- Specialized bullying: Racial, religious, sexual, or disability-related bullying.
Bullying causes both physical and emotional harm, with impacts that can affect a person's mental health and social well-being deeply.
