There are many different ways bullies harm other people. These can be divided into several categories such as:-
Physical bullying. This form of bullying is often the easiest to identify because it often involves some sort of physical act like hitting, shoving, kicking, and destroying or stealing property. Physical bullying includes threats of violence as well.
Verbal bullying. Instead of hitting with hands, fists, or feet, the bully will hurt another person with words. This type of bullying includes name-calling, insulting, threatening, mocking, intimidating, and taunting. Even making racist remarks and sexist comments is considered bullying.
Relational aggression. This type of bullying is insidious and uses relationships to control or hurt another person. Some common tactics of relational aggression including excluding or ostracizing other people, talking behind another person’s back, spreading rumors and lies, and participating in gossip.
Relational aggression is especially hurtful because it deprives kids of the opportunity to form meaningful connections with their peers—something that is especially important during the tween and teen years.
Cyber bullying. This type of bullying usually takes place off of school grounds by utilizing technology. Some common platforms include cell phones, Instagram, TikTok YouTube, Facebook, e-mail, blogs, and so on.
These platforms are used as a way to engage in relational aggression and verbal bullying. Bullies insult, harass, spread rumors, and impersonate others. They may even threaten to physically harm other people.
The challenge with cyber bullying is that it can take place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Many a times it is done anonymously. As a result, the effects of cyber bullying are significant.
Sexual bullying. This type of bullying involves humiliating words and actions that target a person sexually. For instance, slut shaming is a relatively common form of sexual bullying. Other examples of sexual bullying include making crude comments, vulgar gestures, and propositioning. Even uninvited touching, exposure to pornographic materials, and sexual name-calling are considered forms of sexual bullying.
In most cases of sexual bullying, it involves boys bullying girls or girls bullying girls. In rare cases, girls will bully boys sexually.
Prejudicial bullying. When kids have prejudices over different races, religions, or sexual orientations, then prejudicial bullying usually takes place. In these cases, kids are targeting another person because they are different in some way.
They also may use other tactics to accomplish their goal such as verbal bullying, physical bullying, and cyber bullying. While some races, religions, and sexual orientations are targeted more than others, it is important to recognize that anyone can be bullied for being different.
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