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Sidney, Deneshia Mrs. Jones English IV- 5B 13 March 2014 The Negative Impacts of Bullying Bullying is extremely common; it can happen anywhere, to anyone. Bullying has no respect of a person. Thirty percent of the U.S. students in grades sixth through tenth are involved in moderate or frequent bullying as bullies, as victims, or as both according to the results of the first national school bullying statistics. Bullying is becoming more and more of a problem as time goes on. It has a major effect on thousands of people in the United States. A review of various studies on bullying, statistical data as it relates to bullying, and personal accounts from several victims of bullying demonstrates that it can lead to many deleterious effects on its victims including physical, psychological, and social damage. Bullying is when the use of force, threat, and maltreatment, to intimidate, or aggressively inflict domination over others; it has been in existence since 1693. Bullying behaviors usually happen repeatedly. Approximately 160,000 teens skip school every day because of bullying and over 3.2 million students fall victim to bullying each year (Teens Against Bullying). While, bullying exists in other countries, the Germans call it psychoterror; the United States has the worst problem because it is not yet illegal. Bullying wasn't considered a significant problem until the 1970s, and it has worsened since then. Although, there are no federal laws against bullying in severe cases it can be prosecuted as harassment. In 1973, Dan Olweus published Aggression in

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the Schools: Bullies and Whipping Boys. His arguments in this book, such as that bullying is a big problem in schools, paved the way for many new anti-bullying policies. Legally schools are now obligated to address any incidents bullying related. Mr. Olweus is also known for analyzing and creating the bullying cycle. The bullying cycle is the way bullying occurs in which each person plays a role. It is mostly displayed as circle diagram. It is made up of: the person who bullies, the victim who gets bullied, and the larger group that allows the bullying to continue. It starts with the bully, and each type of bystander circles around the victim, which is in the middle. The cycle is constantly repeated, although the roles may switch up. The bully can be anyone. He/she usually has low self-esteem and picks on others for selfish gain. He is dominating and focuses mostly on himself. He/she that bullies others may come from homes of domestic violence, and are mimicking what they see at home. The bully may have even been a victim of bullying before. Victims are usually the odd balls and are very passive. The victims usually dont have many friends. Bystanders are the people stand by either helping egg the situation on or observing and not trying to stop it. Usually, bystanders do nothing or join in because they are afraid to step in because they dont want to get bullied or because they dont want to lose their social status. Everyone involved in the cycle is affected not just the victim. Bullies have increased risk of getting in trouble with the law and being dropouts. Victims and bystanders have an increased risk for substance abuse, academic problems, and violence. There are several different ways in which a person can be bullied: on the internet, emotionally, physically, and socially. Every type of bullying can impact the social well-being of a victim. Cyberbullying (internet bullying), is when bullies use the internet as a way to make fun of or down other people. Cyberbullying has become increasingly popular over the last decade

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due to technological communications advancements. Cyberbullying can happen any time of the day or night, theres no escaping it. Emotional bullying is any type of emotional harm with the intent to humiliate the victim, such as teasing and name-calling. Although, it doesnt leave bruises, the damage is still done. Emotional bullying affects a person mentally and weakens them emotionally. Physical bullying is when a person is hit, tripped, pushed, or any type of physical harm. It is very dangerous. Physical bullying could end with bodily injuries, damaging of personal belongings, and much more. Being physically bullied sometimes pushes victims too far to where they could harm themselves or others. Attending school helps students to develop social skills. However, students who are victims of bullying have difficulty with social development. Students exposed to long-term bullying can be unfriendly, and often experience a major part of their school career feeling anxiety and insecurity due to social bullying. Bullying happens mostly in school age children. It is due to an imbalance of power, of which the person, who is physically stronger or has some type of advantage, uses it against someone. The target of this aggression is chosen by their appearance and their social status. The person that seems different because of the way they look, the way they act, their race, their religion, or even because of their sexuality, falls victim. They are usually not high in social status and their bullies are usually very popular. Victims care a lot about what people think of them even though, they do not fit in. For example, Dick Vitale, a famous sports anchor, was a victim of bullying. At the age of four he lost vision in his left eye as a result of an accident with a pencil. He had no control of his left eye. He says I was teased over and over, but I was afraid to complain ... I felt I would be labeled as soft or weak. In spite of all he went through with his peers, he was still concerned about what they thought of him. Victims want nothing more than to be accepted and free of bullying. They may go to the extreme to make this happen.

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Bullying will always exist because it is a basic part of life and social development. Although most of its effects are negative, there can be some positive effects of bullying. There are those that feel that children should be allowed to experience a few emotional bruises from bullying without always having adults interfere. These experiences help the children learn to resolve conflict by themselves. Furthermore, some people who are bullied believe that the bullying experiences have made them more resilient and eager to prove that they are not the victims. This drive has helped them push to study hard to become more successful than their persecutors. In essence, victims of bullying are made stronger by their bullies. The bullying you face as a child fully affects you, its the reason I am who I am today (ODay). Although, Aubrey ODay is a success story and credits her bullies for it, she is still a victim. She allowed he bullies to mentally affect her to the point that she spent her early adult life proving them wrong. Bullying is linked to many negative outcomes, including impacts on mental health, physical injury, and even death. It apparently affects all involved. Students who are bullied may have lower self-esteem, less confidence, increased fear and anxiety, depression, lower grades, and even suicidal thoughts (Teens against Bullying). In addition, children who are bullied may develop health complaints, either real or imagined. They may complain of frequent headaches or stomach aches in an attempt to avoid going to school. There are even several extreme cases of them are resulting in violence and even become shooters of the bullies. Children who bully others seem to develop their own set of problems. They are at increased risk for becoming substance abusers, school dropouts, engaging in criminal behavior, and for becoming sexually promiscuous. Furthermore, they are more likely to become abusive to their spouses, romantic partners, or even their children as adults. Meanwhile, those who witness bullying are also adversely affected. They too are at increased risk of becoming substance

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abusers and for developing mental problems like anxiety and depression. Although bullying has been linked with suicide, most victims of bullying do not have suicidal thoughts and do not commit suicide. Bullying has become a major conversation in America. There are broadcasts, organizations, and individuals that have been speaking up about bullying and trying to put it to an end. It is a problem that has really left a mark on our society. Schools in the U.S. houses approximately 2.1 million bullies and 2.7 million of their victims (The Facts and Stats of Bullying). Bullying can do serious damage. It is important that everyone is aware of bullying because it has long-lasting problems and can lead to tragic ends, which could possibly be prevented. In conclusion, Every Day hundreds and thousands of people are being bullied. It occurs in all age groups. When bulling becomes part of a normal day or occurs routinely, it can be very painful and stressful. Bulling can occur in any environment. It can even occur right in ones own household. Children are afraid to go to school, and adults dread going to work as a result of bulling. Children make up any and every excuse not to go to school while adults make excuses not to report to work. Bulling is a problem that affects millions of people on a daily basis. Its results are far reaching and long lasting, whether you are the one being bullied, doing the bulling, or just the one seeing it done. Bullying can lead to various negative endings. For instance, it can cause one to flunk out of school. Not only that, but many jobs are lost or terminated, either because the person took it upon himself to quit or was fried due to poor performance. In addition, peoples health is affected by bull ying. It can cause a mental breakdown, as well as a physical breakdown in the body, resulting in ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, depression and anxiety. Also, the stress associated with being bullied can weaken the immune system. Furthermore, the

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end result may even lead to death. Worst of all, some people commit suicide, and others decide to take matters into their own hands by retaliating against those that are bullying them. Bullying does not allow one to be himself. Bullying can take away ones health, strength, pride and selfesteem. When bullying is first present someone should take a stand to stop the bully in his tracks so that it does not become a part of the norm to offend others routinely. All it takes is just for one person to speak up, and usually others will join in agreement to let the bully know that they do not like what he is doing and that this type of behavior wont be tolerated. Bullying becomes a major problem when people stand by and watch it happening and do nothing to stop it. This only worsens the situation. One is his brothers keeper. Many strategies are being developed to come up with ways to combat bullying. New anti-bullying laws are being developed. Different groups are being trained to recognize and to address bullying. These include law enforcement officers, teachers, coaches, and other school officials, as well as, business leaders, clergy, and community officials. They are working together to come up with ways to recognize and help victims of bullying, and to provide an environment that they feel comfortable to report it. Equally important, they are working to assist those who bully to recognize their errors and to change their ways. Finally, they are working to help the bystanders realize that it is their duty to stand up for their fellowman. The Texas School Safety Center has complied ten cost effective strategies for bullying preventions in school. They are as follow: 1. Assess Bullying at your School 2. Target Areas Where Bullying is Most Common

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3. Create a Safe and Supportive School Environment 4. Engage Staff, Students, and Parents in Prevention Efforts

5. Charge the School Safety and Security Committee with Coordinating All Bullying Prevention Efforts 6. Train/Teach Students and Staff about Bullying 7. Create and Enforce Clear Rules Pertaining to Bullying 8. Empower Staff to Intervene During a Bullying Incident 9. Infuse Bullying Prevention Education into Existing Curriculum 10. Continue Efforts over Time These are strategies that schools should consider adopting to help identify and prevent bullying. Prevention should be considered an ongoing process and not simply a one-time event. (The Effects of Bullying Among School-Aged Youth)

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Work Cited Aubrey ODay My Personal Bullying Story. Youtube.com. 11 Jul. 2013. Friend Movement. 9 Mar. 2014. <www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS2X2tVyuG8>. "Background on Bullying." Do Something. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. Bullying Frequently Asked Questions. WebMD.com. 23 Dec. 2010. Healthwise, Inc. 26 Feb. 2014. <www.webmd.com/parenting/tc/bullying-frequently-asked-questions>. How Does Bullying Affect Health & Well-Being? Nichd.nih.gov. 30 Nov. 2012. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. 10 Mar. 2014. "How Schools Counter Bullying: Policies and Procedures in Selected Australian ..." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. Kochenderfer-Ladd, Becky, and Wendy Troop Gordon. Introduction to The Special Issue Contexts, Causes, and Consequences: new directions in peer victimization research Merrill-Palmer Quarterly. 56.3 (2005): p221. General OneFile. Web. 25 Aug. 2014. Lyness, Arcy.Dealing with Bullying. Kids Health.com. 01 July 2013. The Nemours Foundation. 08 Mar. 2014. <kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/bullying/bullies.html>. "Stop Bullying Now 2013." Stop Bullying Now 2013. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. Teens against Bullying. pacerteensagainstbullying.org. n.d. Pacer Centers Teens against Bullying. 26 Feb. 2014 <www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org/#/identify>.

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"Understanding the Bullying Cycle." - KNILT. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. Vitale, Dick. Unforgettable Hurt From Bullying. ESPN. 20 Nov. 2013. ESPN Internet Ventures. 10 March 2014. <espn.go.com/espn/dick-vitale/story/_/id/10006866/dickvitale-personal-experience-bullying>. What is Bullying. Stopbullying.gov. n.d. U.S. Department of Health and Human Sciences. 26 Feb. 2014 <www.stopbullying.gov>. "TxSSC." The Effects of Bullying Among School-Aged Youth. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.