What is Bullying?
Bullying behaviour has three key features. It involves the intentional misuse of power in a relationship. It is ongoing and repeated, and it involves behaviours that can cause harm.
Bullying behaviour can be:
- verbal e.g. name calling, teasing, abuse, putdowns, sarcasm, insults, threats.
- physical e.g. hitting, punching, kicking, scratching, tripping spitting.
- social e.g. ignoring, excluding, ostracising, alienating, making inappropriate gestures
- psychological e.g. spreading rumours, dirty looks, hiding or damaging possession, malicious SMS and email messages, inappropriate use of camera phones.
Conflict or fights between equals or single incidents are not defined as bullying.