Bullying

Exposure to violence may have many consequences, like: loneliness, depression, sadness, intimidation, uncertainty, low self-confidence, even sickness, present throughout life. Findings show that victims of bullying at school are more depressed at the age of twenty than those who were not victimised by bullying.

There is no simple answer to this question. However, there are some characteristics of the family and the child which affect the development of violent behaviour, as well as some characteristics of schools which may encourage or prevent violence.

Bullies need to feel control and power over others and sometimes lack empathy for their victims. They are defiant, confronting adults, antisocial, and tend to break school rules.

We talk about peer bullying when one or more children deliberately and repeatedly disturb, attack, hurt or exclude from play and activity a child who cannot defend. Such abuse may have the form of threats, physical injuries, exclusion, mockery, teasing, gossiping, taking property, destroying property and is often followed by unpleasant comments about the child's family or relatives

Bullies spot victims who are vulnerable or stick out (because of the colour of their skin, the way they walk, their name, size, religion, spectacles, family, clothes...). Victims are often quiet, silent, passive, anxious, insecure and cautions children with low self-esteem. They have few friends who sometimes even stand up in their defence. They are often connected with their parents who can often (but not always) be described as over-protective.