5 Things You Need to Know About Bullying

1. Bullies Don't Just Take Lunch Money Anymore

Bullying is the act of an individual harassing another individual on the basis of intimidation or to invoke fear or submission. Children typically get their first taste of bullying in grade school. Everyone can remember stories of the big kid on the playground who stole lunch money or stuck kids in trashcans for fun. However, it is often more insidious in nature: Bullying can take the form of verbal intimidation, sexual harassment, humiliation, Internet or chat harassment and even long term psychological abuse.

2. Watch For a Bully-in-the-Making

Bullies tend to be abused children or teens. Bullying is most often an expression of aggression that cannot be acted out in the home environment, so must therefore be played out in another arena. It is an effort to regain a sense of power for some children. However, this can often take violent and extremely hurtful forms and be quite horrifying and unpleasant for the recipients of the anger. Boys tend to be more likely to engage in physical bullying behavior; however, females are prone to bullying, as well. Many bullies have behavioral or personality disorders that interfere with typical brain functioning and increases violent or aggressive behavior.

3. Bully Is a Gender-Blind Role

Any girl who has been in a school or social environment knows there is always the "mean girl." In fact the popular motion picture "Mean Girls" is a perfect example of how female bullying plays out across America's school systems. Girls often use nonviolent bullying and forms of social humiliation and manipulation in order to invoke fear. Gossip is a common form of female bullying and when taken to an extreme can be quite detrimental to a young girl's self-esteem and social functioning. Being able to recognize female bullying behavior is important in lifting the stigma that it's a "boy thing."

4. Seek Help to Stop Bullies

Victims of bullies often live life in a terrified state. School or social situations can become a fear-invoking atmosphere as opposed to a safe learning or social environment. Teaching children to be honest and up-front about the behavior is helpful. Informing teachers or other responsible adults around the children is another good way to help promote protection. Teach the victim to stick with trusted friends or to immediately find a teacher or authority figure to help reduce the possibility for harassment. Healthy, assertive, yet peaceful tactics seem to be more effective in dissipating angry attacks.

5. Getting Bullies Help Will Solve the Problem

Getting help for the bully is also extremely important. Bullies are often victims themselves, either of undesirable family environments or mental disorders. Bullies should be treated with stern compassion. Teachers, parents and authorities should take initiative in helping bullies seek help for their aggressive or inappropriate behavior. Bullying is a serious problem in many areas and both the victim and the bully should be helped adequately by responsible adults.