Identifying the Four Common Types of Bullying

Introduction

Bullying has led to the suicides of several American youths. Kids and adults alike have talked about bullying and their experiences. From coworkers acting too aggressively to kids in class being mean, bullying is a common occurrence that has been portrayed in movies, books, and television shows for several generations. Although many people think they have a good idea of what constitutes bullying, many do not know the various forms it can take. People can be bullied verbally, physically, online, and within relationships. Intimate partners, friends, and family members can all be bullies.

The four different types of bullying discussed in this essay are relational, verbal, physical, and cyberbullying. These types of bullying are often difficult to identify, and examining them in depth provides a deeper understanding of bullying and its potential negative impact on both the bully and the person being bullied.

What Is Bullying

Bullying is defined as hurtful, mean behavior that occurs continually within any relationship that has an imbalance of strength or power (Zins, Elias, Maher, & Wiggins, 2007). It can take on several forms, which may often seem similar to one another. It is important to distinguish each form and understand how each one impacts the person on the receiving end.

Bullying can consist of direct or indirect forms. "Direct bullying refers to face-to-face physical or verbal confrontations, while indirect bullying is usually described as less visible harm-doing, such as spreading rumors and social exclusion" (Zins, Elias, Maher, & Wiggins, 2007, p. 11). Those who experience direct bullying may be verbally or physically assaulted, while those who experience indirect bullying may be gossiped about. Regardless of the form, direct or indirect bullying can have profoundly negative and long-lasting effects on the person bullied.

The first form of bullying is relational bullying, which is considered a type of indirect bullying. Relational bullying involves exclusionary tactics — the deliberate prevention of someone from joining or being part of a group (Macklem, 2010). This exclusion could occur at a game, a social activity, or a lunch table. A typical example is when a group of boys at baseball practice decide to go out for food and deliberately leave one person behind, ignoring him as though he were invisible. Making people feel excluded from a group can lead to feelings of worthlessness and depression.

Types of Bullying

People suffering from relational bullying may experience mood changes, begin isolating themselves, or withdraw from peer groups altogether. Although relational bullying can happen to either gender, girls experience this form of bullying more than boys, particularly within certain age ranges. "Between eight and eleven years of age, girls continue to use more and more relational aggression. They appear to be choosing the form of aggression that is most hurtful to others, and the type of aggression that is most tolerated by the peer group" (Macklem, 2010, p. 42). Relational bullying does not simply mean excluding someone; it may also involve spreading rumors, sharing secrets and breaking confidences, and recruiting peers to share in the dislike of a target. This form of social manipulation is quite common in grade school and can frequently continue through middle school.

Bullies who engage in relational bullying may do so to feel power over others and over their intended target. They may dislike the victim and therefore feel the need to encourage others to dislike that person as well. Relational bullying also helps the bully increase his or her social status among peers: by putting someone else down or making someone else look bad, the bully appears better in comparison.

The next form of bullying is verbal bullying, which is an example of direct bullying. Although there is no visible physical harm as seen with physical bullying, those who experience verbal bullying report developing traumatic memories from such events. "Verbal bullying usually takes the form of name-calling, taunting, interrupting, teasing, joking or threatening, intimidating, and humiliating. Victims of verbal bullies are often shy, have low self-confidence, and are chosen because they don't have friends to defend them" (Ryan, 2012, p. 7–8). Bullies who verbally target their victims do so because it makes them feel powerful. Like relational bullies, they may tease someone to improve their own social standing and to belong to a group.

Verbal bullying can make a victim depressed and socially withdrawn, and it can lead to suicidal ideation. Those who are verbally bullied may feel as though they have no one to turn to for relief. The best way to deal with verbal bullying — whether as a child or as an adult — is to build confidence and develop self-respect. When people understand and assert their own personal boundaries, it can help them avoid or deflect a verbal bully.

The third form of bullying is physical bullying. It is a direct form and is generally easier to notice than other types. Some people assume physical bullying is the most common type; however, evidence suggests it is actually the least common. "Many adults characterize most bullying as being physical, but this is a myth. In truth, physical bullying comprises the minority of bullying activity. Both boys and girls much more commonly experience verbal, social, and educational bullying" (Heinrichs & Myles, 2003, p. 25). People who experience physical bullying are generally physically weaker than the bullies targeting them and tend to have a less assertive personality.

An example of physical bullying is when a child kicks or scratches another child one day and then pulls that child's pants down the next. This repeated pattern of aggression and physical violence constitutes physical bullying. Physical bullying can lead to serious consequences for the victim, including permanent injury, disability, or even death.

One example of physical bullying that led to death was the case of Bailey, a 12-year-old honor student. He was struck in the head several times and suffered seizures that put him in a coma. "Bailey suffered a concussion, broken nose and other injuries when two boys jumped him at recess — one pushing him and the other landing the blows. He started suffering violent seizures causing doctors to put him in a medical coma" (Davies, 2013). Bailey died a short time later from his injuries.

Physical bullying can be difficult to stop. Appropriate measures include gathering evidence and contacting law enforcement. No person should have to endure physical bullying, and such cases must be handled accordingly. The reasons why physical bullying occurs are varied. Physical bullies often attack their victims because they themselves experience some form of abuse, because they simply can, or because they are peer-pressured into doing so. Regardless of the reason, physical bullying is a dangerous form of aggression that must be addressed through proper authorities to prevent further harm.

The final form of bullying is cyberbullying. While cyberbullying may be seen as a form of indirect bullying, it can also take on characteristics of direct bullying through harassing behaviors such as insults and written attacks sent online. A person can anonymously blackmail someone, post degrading and offensive content on various social media platforms, and create pages designed to mock someone's appearance. Cyberbullying has become a major issue and has led to the deaths of several teenagers over the past decade. One notable example is Amanda Todd.

Amanda Todd was a teenage girl who died by suicide because of an anonymous man who harassed her for years, posting topless pictures of her for her classmates to see. In addition to being tormented online, she was physically assaulted by the girlfriend of a boy she had been involved with, and was hospitalized afterward after drinking bleach. Todd made a short video on YouTube detailing her suffering. "On September 7, 2012, Amanda Todd posted a video on YouTube entitled 'My Story: Struggling, Bullying, Suicide and Self Harm.' Using cue cards, she tells her story of the cyberbullying she had been exposed to for a long period of time" (Hendricks & Hansen, 2014, p. 17). One month later, in October 2012, Todd died by suicide in her home.

Conclusion

Macklem, G. L. (2010). Bullying and teasing: Social power in children's groups. Springer.

Ryan, P. K. (2012). Online bullying. Rosen.

Zins, J. E., Elias, M. J., Maher, C. A., & Wiggins, L. (2007). Bullying, victimization, and peer harassment: A handbook of prevention and intervention. Psychology Press.