Why Does Someone Bully? | The Ismaili Canada

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Why Does Someone Bully?

April 8, 2021 | Canada

Bullying is often most observable amongst kids and teens, however, bullying can happen at any age. Behaviours associated with bullying can develop over an extended period of time and may continue well into adulthood. There is no simple, easy answer as to why some people bully, but focusing on some common conceptualizations provides insight into understanding the motivations behind bullying.

Common reasons include:

  • Domination
  • Powerlessness, and trying to regain power
  • Insecurity
  • Popularity
  • Thinking it will improve social status
  • Prejudice and discrimination
  • Peer pressure
  • Exposure to violence
  • Victim of bullying

Individuals who demonstrate control, power, or domination over others are more likely to bully. Bullies exert physical and emotional influence to inflict harm on others. They may also use threats, rumors, physical or verbal attacks, and intentional exclusion. At times, bullying can be viewed as an expression of subordinate social status, where one might feel the need to improve their social status at the expense of harming another.

Childhood bullying can be the most prevalent in situations where a child bullies on the premise of acquiring popularity and targeting the most vulnerable people. Children may also bully because they feel insecure within a group of people. The fear of not being accepted or the fear of becoming the next target can lead children to bully others. Additionally, some children may bully because they are emotionally neglected, bullied, abused, and/or are experiencing violence themselves. The various impacts of childhood bullying continues into adulthood.

Prejudicial bullying arises from a learned belief that certain groups of people are not entitled to the same level of respect relative to other groups. When prejudicial bullying occurs, children can be seen to target those who may look physically different to them. This type of severe bullying can perpetuate discrimination and eventually lead to hate crimes.

Adults who tend to experience bullying in the workplace are most likely to report being depressed, anxious, and under substantial amounts of stress. At its core, workplace bullying is often hard to recognize because it is best understood as something psychological. Workplace bullying can include unreasonable demands, setting impossible deadlines, interference with work, and the discounting of achievements.

Some reasons that adults bully:

  • Targeting someone that they feel is a threat
  • In order to further their own agenda at the expense of harming another
  • To deny responsibility for their own behaviour
  • To mask their lack of confidence and low self-esteem

It is important to discourage bullying by always being a good role model and showing our children from a young age that the only way to overcome difficulties is by utilizing positive methods. It is paramount to reiterate to our children and to the other members of the Jamat that bullying is hurtful, harmful, and should be avoided at all costs.

If you are concerned that a child is being bullied or needs support, please report it to a local authority or organization, or reach out for support.

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