BULLYING Some Causes and Effects

What Gives Rise to Bullying?

In many cases the bully's formative years are marred by poor parental example or by outright neglect. Many bullies come from homes where the parents are cold or uninvolved or have, in effect, taught their children to use rage and violence to handle problems. Children raised in such an environment.  may not see their own verbal attacks and physical aggression as bullying; they may even think that their behavior is normal and acceptable.

One 16-year-old girl who had been bullied at home by her stepfather and at school by fellow students says that she became a bully herself when in the seventh grade. She admits:  "Basically it was a lot of anger building up inside of me; I just picked on anybody and everybody. 

Feeling pain is a big thing. Once you feel the pain, you want to dish it out." While such physical aggression may not be typical of girl bullies, the anger behind it is. Many schools bring together large numbers of students from different backgrounds, who have reared in widely varying ways. Sadly, some children are aggressive because they have been taught at home that intimidating others and verbally abusing them are the best means of getting their own way.

Next time:  BULLYING Some Causes and Effects  - Conclusion of What Gives Rise to Bullying?

From the Awake! magazine, 2003