Pop Quiz

What is bullying?

Answer: All of the above

Bullying definitions typically include:

• The target is being hurt or harmed by unwanted words or behavior
• The hurtful behavior is repeated or there is a concern that it will be repeated
• The target being hurt has a hard time stopping or preventing the unwanted behavior
• The hurtful behavior is carried out by those who have more (real or perceived) power, which is used to control or harm others. Power can mean students who are older, are physically stronger, have access to embarrassing information, have more social status, or are part of a group that is singling out an individual.

Is bullying same as conflict?

Answer: No

Bullying is different from conflict. While both may hurtful, conflict is a natural part of life as we will not always agree. It becomes bullying when one person tries to exert power and control over the other person.

When asked if they experienced bullying, what percentage of students indicated, “yes.”

Answer: 1 in 5.

Research by National Center for Educational Statistics shows that in the United States, more than one of every five students report being bullied.

Can students have more than one role in a bullying situation?

Answer: Yes!

It’s often the case that being bullied, doing the bullying, or witnessing bullying are not distinct categories! It’s more common that kids play multiple roles throughout the day.

Students who bully come in all shapes and sizes?

Answer: Yes!

It’s not like the movies, where the person bullying is a big, tough-looking kid who wears all black and grunts a lot. There is no stereotype, it can be the athletic girls and the studious boys. The person bullying can be popular, unpopular, tall, short, rich, poor, or anything else. The only way to recognize someone who bullies is by how they act, not by how they look.

If you ignore bullying, will it just go away?

Answer: No.

In most situations, silence doesn’t help. If ignoring made it go away, then those getting bullied could make it stop by just walking away, not engaging. Boom, problem solved. Of course this isn’t reality, and it’s so important to tell an adult about bullying, whether you’re being bullied or you witness it.