Bullying FAQs

What is bullying?
Bullying includes a wide variety of behaviors, but all involve a person or a group repeatedly trying to harm someone who is weaker or more vulnerable.

How is someone bullied?
Bullying can involve direct attacks:

• Hitting
• Threats or intimidation
• Malicious teasing
• Name-calling
• Sexual remarks
• Ostracizing because of physical features
• Taunting due to gender identity, or sexual preference
• Stealing or damaging personal belongings

Or can involve subtle, indirect attacks:

• Spreading rumors
• Encouraging others to reject or exclude someone

Are gangs a form of bullying?
Yes. Some kids are under tremendous pressure to join a gang. And often, kids join gangs as a way of protecting themselves from bullying and violence.

Are cliques a form of bullying?
Yes. Girls in cliques will pick on others whose clothing, hairstyle, or size doesn't fit what they see as cool.

How do gangs bully?
There are several ways, including

• Racial slurs
• Retaliatory acts against someone who committed an insult or offense against a gang member
• Physical threats or actions against disloyal members

How do cliques bully?
Often they employ insults, gossip, rejection, or spreading rumors.

What types of kids tend to be bullied?

• Children who are usually loners. Kids who appear to not have friends are frequent magnets for bullies
• Children who are different, have mental or physical disabilities
• Sometimes there is no specific reason why a bully picks on a certain child

How can I tell if my child is being bullied?
Children who are victims of bullies often exhibit some of the follow signs and symptoms:

• They feel tense, anxious, and afraid
• They have difficulty concentrating in school
• They try to or do avoid going to school

What are the long-term consequences of being bullied?
If bullying continues for some time, it can begin to affect the child's self of self and feelings of self-worth. It may increase their social isolation, leading them to become withdrawn and depressed, anxious and insecure. There is also a relationship between juvenile homicide and suicide and repressed rage from years of bullying, taunting, intimidation, isolation and abuse by classmates.

What are the long-term consequences of bullying behavior?
Bullying is often a warning sign that children are at risk for serious violence.

Do childhood bullies become aggressive adults?
Teens who bully are more likely to engage in other antisocial or delinquent behavior that will continue into adulthood.

• They are four times more likely to be convicted of crimes by age 24
• 60% have at least one criminal conviction