As the sound of school bells ringing signals that school is
back in session for the year, it also means that students and parents will face
some common issues. It is estimated, each day in America, that 160,000 students
stay home from school in order to avoid being bullied, so it makes a lot of
people wonder what goes on in the mind of a bully. Judging by the research
regarding who bullies, it would stand to reason that it's quite a bit.
"We tend to look at the situation of bullying, and not
so much at the bully him- or herself," explains Peter J. Goodman, author
of the book "We're All Different But We're All Kitty Cats." "But
if we had a chance to peek into the mind of the bully, we might be surprised at
some of the things we would learn."
There are some things that bullies don't want people to
know, including:
1.They aren't sure about the best way to communicate their
feelings. Usually, there is something that a bully wants, but they tend to go
about trying to get it in the wrong way. While people have typically thought
that bullies were never the popular kids, for example, research shows that they
are often popular kids. They tend to bully because they are trying to look good
to their peers, and become even more popular.
2.They may be hurting inside and want you to hurt, too. Some
kids who bully don't feel good about themselves and may be bullying others to
help offset their own feelings. Bullies usually want to feel stronger. Bullying
others makes them feel stronger and more powerful. Bullies, especially those
who bully to raise their social status, want desperately to fit in with their
peers and be accepted.
3.They are probably bullying people in the home, too. If
someone is a bully at school, there is also a good chance they are bullying
someone in the home, such as a sibling. Research published in the British
Journal of Developmental Psychology found that children who bully at school are
likely also bullying their siblings in the home.
4.They have probably also been bullied, somewhere along the
way. Some children who bully have learned the behavior at home. Research has
found that many children who bully have seen such behavior in the home, or are
more likely to have been exposed to violence in the home.
5.They probably sought you out because they thought you were
weak. According to the American Psychological Association, a typical victim is
sensitive, quiet, withdrawn, shy, insecure, has low self-esteem, and appears
physically weaker than the bully. Those students who appear not to have at
least one good friend are often seen as easy targets by bullies.
"A bully is a kid, just like everyone else," added
Goodman. "They may need some help in learning better ways to communicate
their feelings and learn how to get along better with their peers. But this is
something that each of us needs to work on, in our community, in order to make
it a better place for everyone."
According to the National Institutes of Health, bullying
takes place when someone repeatedly tries to harm someone that they believe is
weaker. It can take multiple forms, including physical (e.g., hitting, kicking,
pushing, etc.), verbal (e.g., threatening, teasing, etc.), and social (e.g.,
rumors, exclusion, etc.). In recent years, cyber-bullying has also become more
widespread; this involves bullying through the use of electronic means,
including online and through text messaging.
Goodman's first book of the Kitty Cat series, "The
First Day of School," is being used by schools, groups, and individuals across
the nation to help teach young children about bullying. The book uses a cast of
cat characters to demonstrate how we are all different, but that it's important
to be accepting of everyone.
The book has been written for children in pre-kindergarten
through the third grade. The earlier children learn about the importance of
preventing bullying, the better. To learn more about the book series, or to
purchase the volume that addresses bullying, visit www.kittycatsbook.com.
For more information about the book series, visit the site
at: www.kittycatsbook.com or our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/kittycatsbook.
Sources:
American Psychological Association. School bullying is
nothing new, but psychologists identify new ways to prevent it.
http://www.apa.org/research/action/bullying.aspx
National Institutes of Health. Bullying.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bullying.html
Science Daily. Bullying at school linked to bullying at
home. December 2009. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091206185410.htm
USNews. Bullying May Accompany Drive to Be Popular. February
2011.
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2011/02/08/bullying-may-accompany-drive-to-be-popular
WebMD. Bullying may be linked to violence in the home. April
2011. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20110421/bullying-may-be-linked-to-violence-at-home
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