Define • Types • Examples • Resources

Do you wake up feeling sick every morning to face the day ahead? Are you afraid you might run into someone on campus or at work? Do you find yourself looking over your shoulder as you walk down the hall, or as you come in from the parking lot? Are you being bullied?

Most people know bullying exists, yet this behaviour often goes unchallenged until it impacts someone we know and care about, or becomes a problem too serious to ignore. Bullying is associated with a range of physical and mental health issues, as well as educational, antisocial and relationship problems, and even suicide. The goal of a person who bullies is to induce fear in another person, no matter how it’s manifested. It’s an exercise in power and control, often through humiliation. The perpetrator can be anyone, and the victim can be anyone.

A Canadian study found in 85% of bullying incidents, there is a witness, and most of the time bullying stops if a peer intervenes.

Definition

Bullying includes but is not limited to, intimidation or engaging in actions intended to frighten, coerce, belittle or induce distress. Bullying is unlikely to involve physical violence; it usually takes the form of psychological abuse. It can include actions that are criminal in nature.

Types of bullying

Verbal bullying
Verbal bullying can leave a person feeling angry, frightened and powerless. If a victim is unable to share his or her feelings with someone, they can also feel emotionally bruised and exhausted. Their powers of concentration can suffer, adversely affecting their capacity for learning. Verbal attacks can be of a highly personal and sexual nature. They can be directed at the victim’s culture, race or religion. Malicious rumours are particularly insidious forms of verbal bullying.

Physical bullying
This type of bullying is often written off as horseplay, pretend or just a game or joke when challenged. Be aware these games can be a precursor to vicious physical assaults. Both men and women indulge in physical bullying; men perhaps more so, as they have a greater tendency towards physical aggression.

Gesture bullying
There are many forms of non-verbal threatening gestures that can convey intimidating and frightening messages; for example, a forefinger drawn against the throat, or a finger and thumb in the form of a gun pointed at an intended victim.

Exclusion bullying
This type of bullying is particularly hurtful because it isolates the victim from his or her peer group. It’s very hard for the victim to combat because it directly attacks self confidence and self image. It can also cause a great deal of hardship in a learning environment where group and team work impacts grades.

Extortion bullying
Younger people are particularly vulnerable to extortion bullying but it can also happen at the college level. Demands for money, possessions or equipment may be made, usually accompanied by threats. This kind of bullying often results in robbery.

E-bullying
In our ever-more-technologically advanced world, a new strain of bullying has emerged among students that uses web pages such as Facebook, e-mails and text messaging to abuse, intimidate and attack others, directly or indirectly. 

Examples of cyber bullying:

• Sending cruel, vicious, and sometimes threatening messages
• Creating websites  with stories, cartoons, pictures and jokes ridiculing others
• Posting pictures of classmates online with intent to embarrass them
• Breaking into an e-mail account and sending vicious or embarrassing material to others
• Engaging someone in instant messaging, tricking that person into revealing sensitive personal information and forwarding that information to others
• Taking a picture of a person using a digital phone camera and sending that picture to others without consent.

Resources

Police - (911 in an emergency)
Can help you assess your safety and take action against someone committing a crime.

Sheridan College Security - 905-845-9430  ext. 4044
Can share general information about the law, the legal system and your rights.

Counseling Services - Ext. 2521, Trafalgar and STC campuses; Ext. 5160, Davis Campus
Can provide information on resources and help you manage during periods of crisis.

Crisis Line
May be able to help with crisis intervention and refer you to helpful services.

Transition House
Can provide shelter, information and referrals for women who are stalked by partners
or ex-partners.

People you trust
Family, friends, doctor, or religious adviser may be able to offer emotional support.

Twenty-one per cent of young adults and children said they did not report bullying because they did not know who to go to. At Sheridan College you can report to Security, a faculty member, the associate dean or dean of your school, a manager or director, a member of the Student Union or Faculty and Support Staff Union.

We encourage everyone, as a first step to resolving bullying problems, to speak to the other person directly. Let them know their words or behaviour is inappropriate and unacceptable, and you want it to stop. Also let them know failure to stop will result in you taking the next step of contacting someone.

Web
http://www.nobullyforme.org/index.shtml
http://www.safety-council.org/info/OSH/bullies.html