Bullying and Peer Pressure Facts

Is your child a target of peer pressure and bullying? Learn about the bullying and peer pressure facts and know the ways by which you can stop the occurrence of bullying. The act of bullying can be verbal or physical, but it inevitably has a hostile intent. It always takes place when there is a power disparity, even in an apparently innocent and so-called simple environment as a school. Bullying can affect the victim in a direct or an indirect manner, but when the peer group involves in the aggression, it is a serious situation. Even those who are not the target of bullying can bear the impact of bullying, the implication is to the bystanders or ‘witnesses’ in schools, as they suffer from fear and guilt for not helping out the victim. So they become indirect victims of bullies. In this articleThe Three Vital Elements of BullyingVerbal BullyingPhysical BullyingPsychological Bullying Bullying Via the Electronic MediumSexual BullyingThe Three Vital Elements of Bullying An act of intimidation has been always intentional and the motive is to cause dread, anguish and harm the victim which can be either verbal or physical or both. In the current world, it can even be through the electronic medium like mobile phones and through social networks. Apart from being physical or psychological, bullying can also be sexual.There is a marked imbalance of power. This can be a tricky one, as the imbalance can be a mere fear or idea in the mind of the victim, or real, that is not just perceived.The acts of intimidation or attacks are repeated over time, so as to instill the fear dominantly in the minds of the victim.Different Types of Bullying in Teens The different types of bullying in the teens are as follows. Verbal Bullying This can be as simple as calling names, gossiping, spreading rumours, hurling abuses and insults and teasing. For a sensitive mind, these can scar the psychological state if pursued over time consistently. Physical Bullying There can be myriad ways to bully in a peer group like shoving, hitting, punching, pinching or kicking, or even tripping the victim. Psychological Bullying This can get serious when it involves acts like gesturing in a threatening manner or gesturing to cause embarrassment, stalking or deliberate ignoring making the victim feel excluded and unwanted in the group. Bullying Via the Electronic Medium Cyber bullying are done via mobile phones, that is, through text messages, or using the internet that is via e-mails, or chats and social networks. Sexual Bullying This involves acts of intentional touching or groping. There can be various other ways in which sexual bullying can be carried out even in the midst of a crowd so that the victim feels threatened but unable to retaliate or even speak about it. Finally, the ultimate objective is to stop the occurrence of bullying even before it takes place. This requires the involvement of all parents, the educational system and also the neighbourhood communities. The prevention of violence of every form should be the goal. It can get tricky as the victim can transform into a bully as he has experienced the pain and shame and thus runs across as a vicious cycle. So building of a positive environment is very important. The behavioural skills of the kids should be enhanced as well as the social interactive skills and aid in positive emotional development. These all act as barriers for the birth and growth of violence at an early stage.

Is your child a target of peer pressure and bullying? Learn about the bullying and peer pressure facts and know the ways by which you can stop the occurrence of bullying.

The act of bullying can be verbal or physical, but it inevitably has a hostile intent. It always takes place when there is a power disparity, even in an apparently innocent and so-called simple environment as a school. Bullying can affect the victim in a direct or an indirect manner, but when the peer group involves in the aggression, it is a serious situation. Even those who are not the target of bullying can bear the impact of bullying, the implication is to the bystanders or ‘witnesses’ in schools, as they suffer from fear and guilt for not helping out the victim. So they become indirect victims of bullies.

The Three Vital Elements of Bullying

1. An act of intimidation has been always intentional and the motive is to cause dread, anguish and harm the victim which can be either verbal or physical or both. In the current world, it can even be through the electronic medium like mobile phones and through social networks. Apart from being physical or psychological, bullying can also be sexual.
2. There is a marked imbalance of power. This can be a tricky one, as the imbalance can be a mere fear or idea in the mind of the victim, or real, that is not just perceived.
3. The acts of intimidation or attacks are repeated over time, so as to instill the fear dominantly in the minds of the victim.

Different Types of Bullying in Teens

The different types of bullying in the teens are as follows.

Verbal Bullying

This can be as simple as calling names, gossiping, spreading rumours, hurling abuses and insults and teasing. For a sensitive mind, these can scar the psychological state if pursued over time consistently.

Physical Bullying

There can be myriad ways to bully in a peer group like shoving, hitting, punching, pinching or kicking, or even tripping the victim.

Psychological Bullying

This can get serious when it involves acts like gesturing in a threatening manner or gesturing to cause embarrassment, stalking or deliberate ignoring making the victim feel excluded and unwanted in the group.

Bullying Via the Electronic Medium

Cyber bullying are done via mobile phones, that is, through text messages, or using the internet that is via e-mails, or chats and social networks.

Sexual Bullying

This involves acts of intentional touching or groping. There can be various other ways in which sexual bullying can be carried out even in the midst of a crowd so that the victim feels threatened but unable to retaliate or even speak about it.

Finally, the ultimate objective is to stop the occurrence of bullying even before it takes place. This requires the involvement of all parents, the educational system and also the neighbourhood communities. The prevention of violence of every form should be the goal. It can get tricky as the victim can transform into a bully as he has experienced the pain and shame and thus runs across as a vicious cycle. So building of a positive environment is very important. The behavioural skills of the kids should be enhanced as well as the social interactive skills and aid in positive emotional development. These all act as barriers for the birth and growth of violence at an early stage.