Why do young people bully?

1. Uninvolved Parents

Young people who bully may not be receiving love and warmth from their families. They also may not have rules at home.

2. Aggression in the Family

Aggressive behaviours can be learned when young people are bullied and abused by older siblings or when they are physically punished by parents.

3. Peers Who Bully

Young people can learn bullying from their peers. They often bully to make themselves feel more important, and victims of bullying often become bullies.

4. Friends of a Feather

Young people who tend to bully make friends with other children who bully. Consequently, they support each others bullying behaviours.

5. Lack of School Rules

Bullying is more likely to happen when schools do not have anti-bullying policies or when school rules are not enforced.

6. Poor Supervision in Schools

Bullying can happen more easily when there is poor supervision in the classroom, hallways, tuck shop, or at morning tea/lunch.

7. Social Aggression

Girls more often bully each other emotionally rather than physically hurting each other. Girls often do this to gain attention or make themselves feel better.

8. Media Models

Television, movies, and video games often have aggression and bullying behaviour. Experiencing bullying in the media can reinforce children who bully.

You can break the cycle!

Don’t fight bullying by trying to humiliate or attack the bully. Bullies often have their own problems that make them lash out. Compassion and understanding can help break the cycle.