Bullying in America

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Recommended: Social behavior theory about bullying

According to www.how-to-stop-bullying.com, seventy-seven percent of students are bullied. The definition of bullying has recently changed (how-to-stop-bullying.com). The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the verb “bully” as “to treat abusively” (Merriam-Webster). There is more than one way to abuse someone. So a complete definition, that comes from www.bullyingstatistics.org, is any type of verbal, social, physical, and cyberbullying abuse that occurs (Naas). Bullying is seen everywhere. It is talked about in movies, media, songs, and inside school programs. What makes the bullies, or aggressors, do what they want? How does the bullying effect everyone?

Let us start with why the bullies bully. Ian Rivers, of Brunel University in the United Kingdom, conducted an experiment to find out why the bullies harass others. The study did something that had never been done before. It blatantly asked the teenagers why they bullied others. Most of the kids said it made them feel good, so they continued to do it. Rivers also explained that the differences between the bully and the victim become the motivators for the bully. Things like sexual orientation, grades, sport performance, and possessions are huge motivators (Rettner). When the bullies bully the victims they make it seem like it is the victim's fault. Like the victim deserves to be put down and made fun of. The bully does this to protect their conscious and bring the victim down more. This lets the bully believe they are in the right and justify their feelings.

This justification is not given by any one adult, but by every adult. Every time an adult does nothing to stop the conflicts, they add to the bullies view that their actions are alright. The adults that stand by and abse...

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..., Violence, 2010. Web. 20 Mar 2012.

Naas. "Facts on Bullying." Bullying statistics. BullyingStatistics.org, 2009. Web. 24 Mar 2012. .

how-to-stop-bullying.com. "Bullying Statistics." How to stop bullying. N.p., 2009. Web. 24 Mar 2012. .

Rettner, R. "Bullies On Bullying: Why We Do it." Live science. Live Science, 2010. Web. 24 Mar 2012. .

Merriam-Webster. "Dictionary." Bully. Merriam-Webster Incorporated, 2012. Web. 24 Mar 2012. .

Sharp, Sonia. "How Long Before it Hurts?." School Psychology International. 21.1 (2000): 37-46. Print.

West Geauga Middle School 8th grade girls. Personal Interview. 22 March 2012.

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