Bullying and Victimization Among Children Free Essay Example

Bullying is an issue that has been affecting many in the world today. It takes place in many forms some of which are direct and include physical harm on the victim. Verbal bullying involves name-calling and insults or threats being directed at the victim and may also involve emotional bullying where the victim’s emotions are targeted by the bully. Other forms of bullying may be indirect where the harm is not caused by the person directly but it still ends up affecting the person.

Bullying is termed as a form of abuse that uses power and dominance to those that are weaker and less powerful.

Bullying has been taking place in various areas but it is most common in schools and workplaces. It exists in various social groups, social classes, and is found all over the world. The behavior is usually repetitive and aggressive and it is based on the sole intention of hurting the victim. Bullies carry out the behavior to harm the other person as a way of gaining power over the other person.

It is normally a behavior that is planned and purposeful.

Bullying in schools has become very common and it has led to some very serious consequences. It has led to physical violence in the forms of fight and in some extreme cases deaths by suicides. Cases have emerged of some forms of bullying in the schools that have led to some of these severe consequences. Children who are victims have had to live with short term and long term consequences of the behavior.

Some of the other effects include poor performance in their studies, depression, bedwetting, being withdrawn, changing schools regularly, and in some cases suicides among others (Norfolk, n.d). Over 7% of children especially in the 8th grade tend to stay at home once a month since they are bullied in schools (Banks, 1997). Reports have also shown that about 15% of students are bullied on a regular basis with some being initiated into the bullying practice. Direct bullying is more common among boys than with girls. However, physical abuse in boys tends to reduce as they progress in age. The victims of bullying sometimes carry these effects such as depression and low self-esteem into their adulthood.

Bullying is a serious problem that is affecting the academic and social lives of school-going children. In order to understand the problem and develop an intervention plan that can be used to stop it, it is important to identify the various forms of bullying that are going on within the schools and the trends they are taking. It is also important to understand how they have carried out and the effects that arise from the practice. This will help develop a plan that will be able to establish a safe and secure environment in the schools for all children.
Bullying behavior has been continuously changing over the years. Different forms of bullying have emerged and they continue to develop and be used in the schools. Technology has played a very big role in the evolution of behavior. The first forms of bullying that have existed over the years included both direct and indirect methods that were used in the practice. The methods continue to be in use until today but have been evolved by the use of technology.

Cyberbullying is the latest and most commonly used form of bullying in schools today. It continues to evolve with the changes in technology. It uses text messages, emails, and various posts on websites as a way of bullying. Studies show that over 20% of young people in schools who are between the ages of 11 and 19 have been bullied through this form of bullying (Staffordshire, n.d). The children in the schools today are growing up in a different technological world that is very different from that of the adults. They have experienced information and technological developments that they are now using to evolve the bullying practice. The environment in the technological world is becoming threatening and is creating anxiety among children. They are misusing technology especially the mobile and internet to bully others. Over 22% of young people have been reported to carry out cyberbullying (Digizen, n.d). They are able to carry out the whole practice remaining anonymous to the victim. This form of bullying has made it possible for the bullies to carry out the practice at any time or place (Digizen, n.d).

Needless to say, kids who have bullied experience depression on various different levels depending on the severity of bullying. While most of the kids do not talk about bullying initially at their homes; parents should always keep a check on their child’s behavior and level of interaction in order to detect any such problem at the earliest. Children who are bullied often do not feel comfortable talking about it. The level of anxiety and depression can cause serious issues; hence parents should be more like friends with kids so that they can discuss their problems without hesitation.

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