Bullying
Bullying has become a very serious problem in today’s society. While Bullying is usually associated with the stigma of schoolchildren, it can happen at any age and in all sorts of situations. The following article will aim to explain the definition, causes, consequences, and methods to curb bullies.
One should begin by defining what exactly is meant by the word bully. Merriam-Webster defines a bully as “a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people.” Thus, Bullying can be defined as repeated acts of intimidation intended to create feelings of discomfort in the victim. A bully may not necessarily threaten his or her victim but typically uses coercion to accomplish the goal of intimidation.
Bullying is a worldwide issue that affects millions of children and adults in some way. According to stopbullying.gov, “Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.” This definition explains that Bullying is a regular occurrence between individuals of different ages and typically involves aggravating another individual on a regular basis.
Bullies tend to have specific traits in common. According to an article published by Psychology Today, “Bully victims are more likely to be physically weaker than their tormentors, a new study of U.S. Army soldiers shows, providing the first evidence that physical size may factor into children’s risk for being bullied.” In addition, bullies typically have some sort of charisma or charm that makes them difficult to confront.
Another major cause of Bullying is social media. Social media websites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are ideal platforms for bullies. Websites like these give bullies the ability to anonymously target their victims without fear of being reprimanded. Social media can also be used in harmful ways to demoralize others, even when the victim is not present. Cyberbullying is defined by stopbullying.gov as “the use of computers, cell phones, and other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.” Cyberbullying can happen at any time during the day. As a result of this ease in which information is spread, cyberbullying has become extremely common.
The consequences that come with Bullying can be extremely severe. According to stopbullying.gov, “A lot of Bullying takes place outside the view of adults and often goes unreported. Kids who are bullied are more likely to have health complaints. They may have headaches or a loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy.” In addition, victims of bullies frequently suffer from depression and anxiety. According to the article from Psychology Today, “In follow-up questionnaires administered three months later, the victims reported an average of almost two additional symptoms of anxiety and depression—and their mental health problems were rated as being more severe.” In some extreme cases, Bullying can result in death. According to stopbullying.gov, “Suicide was the third leading cause of death amongst young people ages 10–24 in 2012.”
Finally, there are several methods to curb Bullying. The most obvious is reporting the bullies to a teacher or authority figure. In addition, you can spread awareness by informing others of what Bullying is and how it affects its victims. A simple conversation can motivate others to take a stand against bullies.
In Conclusion
Bullying is a major issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Bullying consists of acts of intimidation intended to create feelings of discomfort in the victim. Individuals who bully typically have specific traits in common and often use social media as a means to demoralize their victims. Consequences for bullying victims can be extremely severe, in some cases resulting in death. There are several methods to curb Bullying, but the most effective way is getting other individuals to take a stand against it.
anonymous gods 
Leave a Reply