Peer bullying can be defined as the systematic pressure exerted by an advantaged individual or group on a disadvantaged individual or group. This advantage can be considered in a broad framework such as being physically stronger or having a better socioeconomic status. It is observed that children in the disadvantaged group are physically weaker and have lower socioeconomic status. In addition, the presence of speech disorders or other disorders in children may also cause the child to be in the disadvantaged category.
Peer bullying is when a child verbally or physically bullies another child of a similar age group. The bully tries to intimidate and dominate the other person through physical or emotional means. As the victim child or his/her friends try to protect themselves and fail, it is seen that there is a reinforcement in the behavior of the bullying child. As the bullied child becomes more and more withdrawn and isolated from social environments, the bully can go harder on the victimized child.
During this period, which coincides with the preschool period, children resort to verbal, emotional and physical bullying because they do not know how to communicate and do not know how to tell their peers what they want in an acceptable way.
Children who bully feel more powerful through their behavior. As the pleasure they derive from this feeling of being stronger increases and as they get older, these behaviors begin to become stereotypes and form the basis of the child's communication skills. In the following years, these behavior patterns become established.
If the victim does not react and does not tell anyone about it, they may continue to be bullied. This can increase the likelihood of other children bullying the victim. It is very important to prevent bullying, as it can become continuous and disrupt the mental state of the victim.
Studies show that 1 out of every 3 children are exposed to this type of bullying at some point in their lives, and 10 to 14 percent of children are exposed to chronic peer bullying for more than 6 months.
Verbal Bullying Behavior: It can be explained as name-calling, ridicule, swearing and humiliating verbal expressions.
Emotional Bullying Behaviors: It can be defined as excluding in a group of friends, ignoring, not helping, assigning tasks or responsibilities in common group activities.
Physical bullying behaviors: These are behaviors using physical force. These behaviors include physical actions such as shouldering, pushing, kicking or punching while passing by.
All these situations may cause the child not to want to go to school, to run away from school or to develop school phobia. If the family observes peer bullying behaviors in their child, they should definitely seek support from a specialist.
It would be protective for the staff of the guidance service to be in contact with students and teachers, to get to know the children and to follow possible changes. Guidance service staff should be well-equipped and trained, including on bullying.
In cases where school authorities see bullying, it is important that they intervene and try to understand all aspects of the issue by avoiding an accusatory attitude.
The victimized child may not want to tell their teachers or parents about the incident, thinking that they will be blamed or ostracized by their friends. On the other hand, the bullying child may report the incident differently. There are some points to be considered to protect children from peer bullying.
Behaviors such as legitimizing bullying, thinking that the victim deserved it, thinking that the incident will not be repeated, and laughing it off should not be allowed.
Both the child who bullies and the child who is exposed to peer bullying may need to be evaluated psychiatrically. Because it is important to evaluate whether the child victim of peer bullying has an underlying lack of self-confidence, anxiety disorder or depression. Children with these disorders are both more likely to be exposed to bullying and more likely to develop these disorders when exposed.
Studies show that children who are exposed to bullying experience an increase in physical symptoms such as headaches and abdominal pain, and suicidal thoughts. It is important to determine whether the bullying child has a condition that needs to be treated, such as a behavioral disorder or impulse control disorder.
At home, the child may see their parents yelling at each other, insulting each other, or even hitting or beating each other. Or, if the child is beaten by his/her parents or, for example, is easily criticized for minor mistakes, or is subjected to condescending and insulting discourse when he/she fails, there is a possibility that he/she may resort to hurtful discourse and violence against a child whom he/she perceives as weaker, or be subjected to similar attitudes by others. Societal violence also increases violence both within the family and between children.
Factors such as stress, difficult living conditions, untreated underlying depression, anxiety disorders, poor anger management and lack of self-confidence make it easier for individuals to resort to violence.
Anger management is a situation that needs to be addressed in the whole society. As children see people shouting at each other on the street and rules are not followed, their risk of bullying may increase. It will be protective for children if society and the family, which is an example of society, avoid discourses and behaviors that glorify bullying attitudes and do not think that the victims deserve it. Tolerance of differences and empathy are among the factors that reduce bullying
Children who are subjected to peer bullying should definitely seek support from a specialized psychiatrist.
Why Do Children Bully?
It is observed that children between the ages of 4 and 6 begin to engage in bullying behavior when they start to actively play meaningfully with each other.During this period, which coincides with the preschool period, children resort to verbal, emotional and physical bullying because they do not know how to communicate and do not know how to tell their peers what they want in an acceptable way.
Children who bully feel more powerful through their behavior. As the pleasure they derive from this feeling of being stronger increases and as they get older, these behaviors begin to become stereotypes and form the basis of the child's communication skills. In the following years, these behavior patterns become established.
What are the Symptoms of Peer Bullying?
The bullying child sees the other as "weak", sometimes physically or emotionally, and aims to dominate, oppress or inflict pain. Bullying attitudes and signs of peer bullying can be listed as follows:- Condescending remarks
- Mockery
- Rumors from behind
- Confiscation of their belongings
- Don't make him buy food
- Doing or excluding homework
- Do not ignore
If the victim does not react and does not tell anyone about it, they may continue to be bullied. This can increase the likelihood of other children bullying the victim. It is very important to prevent bullying, as it can become continuous and disrupt the mental state of the victim.
Studies show that 1 out of every 3 children are exposed to this type of bullying at some point in their lives, and 10 to 14 percent of children are exposed to chronic peer bullying for more than 6 months.
What are the Types of Bullying?
Peer bullying is divided into three types. The types of bullying can be listed as follows:Verbal Bullying Behavior: It can be explained as name-calling, ridicule, swearing and humiliating verbal expressions.
Emotional Bullying Behaviors: It can be defined as excluding in a group of friends, ignoring, not helping, assigning tasks or responsibilities in common group activities.
Physical bullying behaviors: These are behaviors using physical force. These behaviors include physical actions such as shouldering, pushing, kicking or punching while passing by.
What are the Effects of Bullying on Children?
Children exposed to peer bullying behavior may experience a sharp decline in school success. The victimized child focuses his/her attention not on his/her studies but on how to avoid being targeted. It is observed that he/she is more withdrawn, more restless and more stressed than other friends around him/her.All these situations may cause the child not to want to go to school, to run away from school or to develop school phobia. If the family observes peer bullying behaviors in their child, they should definitely seek support from a specialist.
How should peer bullying be treated?
It is wrong to try to deal with peer bullying within the school. The issue must be shared with the parents of the children. Guidance services in schools play an important role in monitoring children's mental health.It would be protective for the staff of the guidance service to be in contact with students and teachers, to get to know the children and to follow possible changes. Guidance service staff should be well-equipped and trained, including on bullying.
In cases where school authorities see bullying, it is important that they intervene and try to understand all aspects of the issue by avoiding an accusatory attitude.
How do we protect children from peer bullying?
Protecting children from bullying starts with keeping good communication with them. One of the most important ways to protect children from peer bullying is to have good communication with children.The victimized child may not want to tell their teachers or parents about the incident, thinking that they will be blamed or ostracized by their friends. On the other hand, the bullying child may report the incident differently. There are some points to be considered to protect children from peer bullying.
Behaviors such as legitimizing bullying, thinking that the victim deserved it, thinking that the incident will not be repeated, and laughing it off should not be allowed.
Both the child who bullies and the child who is exposed to peer bullying may need to be evaluated psychiatrically. Because it is important to evaluate whether the child victim of peer bullying has an underlying lack of self-confidence, anxiety disorder or depression. Children with these disorders are both more likely to be exposed to bullying and more likely to develop these disorders when exposed.
Studies show that children who are exposed to bullying experience an increase in physical symptoms such as headaches and abdominal pain, and suicidal thoughts. It is important to determine whether the bullying child has a condition that needs to be treated, such as a behavioral disorder or impulse control disorder.
What should families and society do?
Bullying does not only concern the perpetrator and the bullied. It concerns families and even the whole society. Because the act of verbal or physical violence increases with exposure.At home, the child may see their parents yelling at each other, insulting each other, or even hitting or beating each other. Or, if the child is beaten by his/her parents or, for example, is easily criticized for minor mistakes, or is subjected to condescending and insulting discourse when he/she fails, there is a possibility that he/she may resort to hurtful discourse and violence against a child whom he/she perceives as weaker, or be subjected to similar attitudes by others. Societal violence also increases violence both within the family and between children.
Factors such as stress, difficult living conditions, untreated underlying depression, anxiety disorders, poor anger management and lack of self-confidence make it easier for individuals to resort to violence.
Anger management is a situation that needs to be addressed in the whole society. As children see people shouting at each other on the street and rules are not followed, their risk of bullying may increase. It will be protective for children if society and the family, which is an example of society, avoid discourses and behaviors that glorify bullying attitudes and do not think that the victims deserve it. Tolerance of differences and empathy are among the factors that reduce bullying
Children who are subjected to peer bullying should definitely seek support from a specialized psychiatrist.
