Understanding Bullying
Understand bullying as hurtful behaviour involving unequal power that happens repeatedly or is likely to happen again. Recognise physical, verbal, social and online bullying, and know how to seek help safely when experiencing or witnessing it.
What a learner can do afterwards
- Define bullying and distinguish it from a one-off conflict
- Name at least three forms of bullying including cyberbullying
- Describe the steps they should take if they experience or witness bullying
1 · Read
Bullying is hurtful behaviour that happens again and again, or is likely to happen again. It involves unequal power: someone uses strength, a group or other power to hurt or control someone who finds it hard to stop them. A single disagreement between friends is different. Even one hurtful act matters, and you can ask for help.
Bullying can hurt bodies, feelings or friendships. Physical bullying includes hitting, kicking or taking belongings. Verbal bullying includes cruel names or teasing. Social bullying includes spreading rumours or repeatedly leaving someone out to hurt them. Cyberbullying happens through messages, apps or games. These forms can overlap. A hurtful post may be shared or seen again after it is first posted.
If someone is in danger, get an adult at once. Move towards a safe place if you can. Tell a trusted adult what happened, in person or online. You do not have to confront anyone. If help has not come or the harm continues, tell another trusted adult. If it is safe, offer the hurt person company or kind words.
For hurtful online messages, show a trusted adult and ask for help. Tell them about any related harm at school too. You do not need to reply. The adult can help record what happened and use blocking or reporting tools. Do not pass hurtful messages or pictures to other children. If the messages continue, tell the adult again or ask another trusted adult.
Bullying involves unequal power and hurt that repeats or is likely to repeat. Seek safety and tell a trusted adult. You can ask for help even after one hurtful act.
These readings and flashcards were written for this dataset. The readings are Recognising bullying, Different forms of bullying, and Get help with hurtful messages.
More to read
Recognising bullying
Two pupils argue once about a seat, then listen to each other and settle the problem. That disagreement does not show bullying.
In another class, a group keeps taking a child's bag to frighten him. He cannot get them to stop. The group has more power in this situation, and the hurt keeps happening. This is bullying.
Bullying can also be behaviour likely to happen again. There is no rule that you must wait for three incidents. If someone hurts or frightens you, tell a trusted adult even if it has happened only once.
Different forms of bullying
Bullying does not always involve hitting. Physical bullying can involve hitting, kicking or taking belongings. Verbal bullying uses cruel names or teasing.
Social bullying can involve spreading rumours or repeatedly shutting someone out to hurt them. Cyberbullying happens through online messages, apps or games. One situation can involve several forms.
For example, a group might spread a rumour at school and post it in a game chat. Both actions can hurt the same person. Tell a trusted adult what you saw or heard. You do not have to know the exact name for it before asking for help.
Get help with hurtful messages
A hurtful message appears in a game chat. You do not have to reply or deal with it alone. Show a trusted adult and explain what happened.
The adult can help record the problem and use the game's reporting or blocking tools. Do not send hurtful messages or pictures to other children. If contact continues, tell the adult again or ask another trusted adult for help.
If a friend is being hurt online, you can tell an adult too. Offer your friend kind words. Do not promise to keep bullying secret. The person being bullied is not to blame.
2 · Watch
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Where it sits
Where this leads
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