Peer bullying is a significant social issue frequently encountered in today’s world, especially among children and adolescents, both in school and social environments. Being subjected to bullying can deeply affect a child’s or young person’s psychological, social, and academic life and development. The occurrence of peer bullying is not just an individual problem but is also closely related to family structure, societal values, and the education system. Therefore, addressing this issue requires not only individual solutions but also holistic approaches.
What Is Peer Bullying?
Peer bullying refers to intentional harmful behavior among individuals of the same age group that is repeated over time. This bullying can take physical, verbal, or social forms. For instance, when one child repeatedly mocks, pushes, or excludes another from a social group, it is considered bullying. These behaviors are often ongoing rather than one-time incidents and may lead to psychological pressure and trauma in the victim.
Types of Peer Bullying
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Verbal Bullying: Includes name-calling, insulting, threatening, or mocking. For example, calling another student “lazy,” “stupid,” or “fat” is a form of verbal bullying. This type can sometimes leave more lasting psychological effects than physical violence.
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Physical Bullying: Involves bodily harm such as hitting or pushing. This form of bullying is generally more noticeable.
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Social Bullying: Includes exclusion from social groups, spreading rumors, or slander. An example is when a group of students deliberately leaves someone out of activities and tries to isolate those who befriend them. This can lead to feelings of worthlessness and loneliness.
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Cyberbullying: With the rise of technology, bullying has moved to online platforms, social media, and messaging apps. Sharing humiliating content or sending threatening messages online are examples of cyberbullying. Due to the constant accessibility of digital platforms, victims may be subjected to harmful behavior at any time of day.
Causes of Peer Bullying
Several factors contribute to peer bullying. These include the child’s communication with their family, levels of empathy, school environment, peer group dynamics, and social norms. Some children may bully others to feel powerful or gain status within a group. Exposure to violent content on social media can also trigger such behaviors.
Effects on the Victim
Children who experience bullying may suffer from psychological issues, low self-esteem, declining academic performance, and even self-harming behaviors. In cases of persistent bullying, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can also emerge. Victims often feel lonely, worthless, and helpless, which may lead to social phobias, withdrawal, and truancy. These psychological effects negatively impact both social and educational aspects of their lives.
Strategies to Combat Bullying
To protect victims and prevent bullying, cooperation is needed between schools, families, and society.
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Family: Parents should spend quality time with their children and actively listen to them. Developing healthy communication and empathy skills at home plays a key role in helping children cope with and confront bullying. Parents must also collaborate with schools.
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School: Teachers and administrators should provide psychoeducation to students, raise awareness about bullying, and create a safe, supportive environment. Structured programs can yield effective outcomes.
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Community: Public institutions and media outlets can organize awareness campaigns to help shift social norms and raise awareness of bullying.
Peer bullying is a serious issue that threatens the mental health and development of both children and adolescents. If bullying is not recognized and intervened early, it can significantly reduce a person’s quality of life in the long term. Therefore, families, teachers, school administrators, and society all have important roles to play in prevention. Combating bullying is a shared responsibility that involves raising public awareness, supporting victims, and creating safe environments.
To ensure children grow up in safe environments, adults must take determined, informed, and compassionate actions. For the continuation and development of healthy generations, we must educate children about bullying and provide them with an empathetic, safe, and supportive environment. Staying silent only allows bullying to continue.