Student Perceptions of School Bullying: Types of Bullying, Consequences, Root Causes

Introduction  

Schools serve as pivotal environments where students invest considerable time cultivating both academic and social competencies. A significant proportion of secondary students encounter bullying yet seldom report these experiences. Bullying is characterized as “any action causing distress or offense to another.” It manifests in various forms—physically, verbally, or psychologically—occurring in person or online, among peers, relatives, or acquaintances. While some may trivialise bullying, victims frequently endure profound trauma or withdrawal. Vulnerable demographics are at an elevated risk, including children from marginalised communities, low-income families, and those who are academically or physically less robust. Bullying behaviour often stems from familial contexts rather than educational settings. Therefore, parents bear the primary responsibility for instilling values that counteract aggression.  

Types of Bullying  

Physical Bullying: Slapping, kicking, shoving, hair-pulling, property damage, or any act inflicting physical pain.  

Verbal Bullying: Taunting, cruel gossiping, spreading malicious rumours, public shaming, or coercive demands.  

Sexual Bullying: Inappropriate comments/jokes, non-consensual touching, distributing sexual content, or spreading intimate rumours.  

Social/Relational Bullying: Purposeful exclusion, social ostracisation, abusive body language (leers, smirks), or creating derogatory rating of peers.  

Cyber Bullying: Harassment via texts, social media, or apps—including harmful posts, shared private information, or humiliating content.  

Prejudicial Bullying: Bias-driven mistreatment rooted in stereotypes about race, gender, religion, or socioeconomic status.  

Technology’s Role: Increased internet/mobile usage has amplified bullying prevalence among students.  

Consequences for Victims  

Bullying causes:  

Physical: Bruises, injuries, frequent illnesses (headaches/stomach aches), sleep disturbances  

Emotional: Depression, anxiety, loneliness, irritability, suicidal ideation  

Behavioural: School avoidance, declining academic performance, aggression, social withdrawal  

Long-term: Difficulty maintaining relationships, reduced career prospects, persistent mental health challenges  

Consequences for Bystanders  

Witnesses often experience guilt, helplessness, and anxiety—fearing intervention might make them targets.  

Root Causes  

Bullying stems from intersecting factors:  

Individual: Bullies often exhibit impulsivity, pro-violence attitudes, noncompliance, or seek power to compensate for personal insecurities.  

Home Environment: Absentee/permissive parenting, domestic violence exposure, or overprotection can model aggression or hinder social coping skills.  

Social: Peer influence, boredom, popularity-seeking, or ignorance about what constitutes bullying.  

Power Dynamics: Perpetrators typically hold higher social status (e.g., physical strength, perceived popularity).  

Prevention Strategies  

1. Communication and Education:  

- Discuss bullying openly; create safe reporting channels.  

- Teach children to identify bullying and treat others with kindness.   

2. Support Systems:  

- Provide counselling for bullies (address root causes) and victims.  

- Never trivialize reports; avoid advising retaliation.  

3. School Initiatives:  

- Implement anti-bullying policies with clear prevention/intervention protocols.  

- Foster inclusive environments celebrating diversity.  

- Train students in safe bystander intervention.  

4. Parental Actions:  

- Model respectful behaviour; build children’s self-confidence.  

- Monitor technology use; address cyber bullying risks.  

5. Policy and Community:  

- Develop child-protection guidelines with student input.  

- Identify/overcome implementation barriers (e.g., resources, awareness).  

Conclusion  

The intricate repercussions of bullying necessitate a concerted collective response. Many victims remain silent due to fear or shame, while parents often struggle to recognize or address incidents.  

Eradicating bullying requires comprehensive education about its forms/causes, empathy building and community vigilance. Eradicating bullying requires a unified commitment and collaboration among educators, parents, and students by fostering environments where every individual feels valued. We can protect vulnerable students and build a generation free from peer-based fear. As we work towards eradicating vulnerable students, we’re shaping a generation.

B. Yaumei Phom 

M.Th in Holistic Child Development