Bullying is a violent or verbal threat made with malicious intent behind it to assert dominance on another person. The main difference between bullying and conflict is that in the act of bullying there has to be unevenness in physical strength between the two parties, however it can also be an imbalance of social power as well. The acts which are done to assert dominance can be the use of verbal threats or physical ones. It can also involve subtle versions like coercion.

To understand the act of bullying, it is rationalized that bullying happens due to a difference in race, social class, appearance, size or even something as small as a reputation. The culture of bullying can develop anywhere; from school to one’s home or even at the workplace. However the leading platform for bullying has shown to be social media websites, with educational institutes at a close second. Read below for more information on the issue.

Characteristics of bullies

Bullies tend to have inflated but an extremely fragile ego which is a leading cause as to why they bully as most might be arrogant and narcissistic but more often than not, bullies hide behind the act of bullying to hide their low self-esteem. It is believed, that by demeaning others the tormentor feels better about themselves. However, it is also argued that personality disorders coupled with aggressive behaviour and a tendency to conserve one’s self image is also a cause for such hostile behaviour. These issues are sometimes blamed upon the upbringing given to these bullies, as normal children might have developed ways to regulate their emotions but those that exhibit bullying do not have these skills. Lastly, it can also be argued that some bullies are very strong psychologically and so target those who are social outcasts. A bully may project his or her own feelings of vulnerability and other displaced negative emotion onto victims. Despite the fact that a bully's activities are aimed at the bully’s targets, the source of these discriminatory behaviours is almost always found in the bully's own sense of personal insecurity and vulnerability which is why they exhibit bullying characteristics to make them feel good about themselves. These bullies engage in behaviours like this to make themselves feel superior and for the sole purpose of entertainment. Typical bystanders who even though are involved are part of the bullying culture as well as they do nothing to stop it.

Characteristics of victims

Usual victims of bullying are seen to be physically weak and can easily become distressed. Moreover, these victims might even be bullied for how they look, for example someone may be bullied because they are overweight or have a deformity like a skin condition or even just for wearing glasses. These victims might exhibit behaviours related to their personality as well like lacking the skills to be social, coming from a negative environment and further being rejected or isolated by their peers. These children may show a tendency to want to skip school to avoid confrontations using a variety of excuses like headaches or stomach aches. They may show a lack of interest in spending time with their family or friends and even exhibit behaviours related to eating disorders. The victims might tend to lash out at even the smallest displays of aggression directed towards them. These victims may also have disabilities which aren’t just physical ones like wheelchair users or those with skin disorders like vitiligo but can also include mental handicaps like cerebral palsy or autism.

Effects of Bullying

Those who suffer from bullying can have diseases ranging from mental ones like depression, anxiety and body dysmorphia to physical ones like an increased susceptibility to diseases. Bullying alone does not lead to suicide however, coupled with depression suicide is one of the leading effects of victims suffering from bullying. This situation is made worse by the lack of empathy from the friends and family of the victims and can lead to feeling isolated without anybody to turn to. Bullying caused by making fun of someone’s appearance leads to eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia. Research of professional assignment writers has shown that those who are bullied show a higher tendency to commit suicide than those who are not. However some victims of bullying do not commit suicide, rather they tend to show a positive message that suicide is not the only option left available to them, rather they can turn their circumstances around and work against them. There are many circumstances which can affect the vulnerability of a victim such as family problems, lack of supportive environments and substance abuse.