Understanding+and+Dealing+with+Bullies



**__What is Bullying?__** Bullying is an abusive behavior directed towards someone that is meant to cause harm either physically or emotionally. Bullying can be carried out through violence, intimidation, teasing, name calling, gossiping, or any action that results in someone feeling hurt and rejected. Everyone has been bullied at some point in their lives.

More often than not, bullies are people who gain satisfaction from doing harm to others. It gives them a feeling of power and control that they might otherwise not experience. Bullies are often people who do not receive a lot of attention at home and parental involvement is lacking. Unfortunately, people who bully others as children and into their teens, are more likely to encounter legal problems and criminal activity as adults.
 * __Why do People Bully Others?__**

People who are bullied tend to be people with low self-esteem, hang out by themselves, and perhaps lack social skills or friends. Bullies will often victimize these kids because they usually will not retaliate or defend themselves.
 * __Who is Getting Bullied?__**


 * __How to Deal with Bullies__**
 * Understand that bullying is not acceptable. If it can be prevented than it should. Do not feel like it is an everyday part of life.
 * Know your schools bullying policies! Many schools today have policies specifically for bullying. These policies may give you specific advice for what to do if you are being bullied.
 * Ask the principal's office or guidance counselor for strategies that can help you deal with bullies without being labeled as a tattle-tale.
 * Try to talk to the bully directly and reason with him. Most of the time bullies do not have personal problems with their victims. If you can get the bully to engage in a conversation with you it may be possible to keep him/her away from you.
 * Talk to your parents, teachers, and principal about what you can do to stop being bullied.

Click on the images below for more information on bullying.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Resources = [|Stop Bullying Now!] [|Kids Health] [|National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center] [|PBS Go]