Page 15 - Demo

15WHAT CAUSES BULLYING?Why does bullying happen in the first place is the most asked question about bullying. The answer is not simple. Does bullying happen because of the bully? Or the bullied student? Or the teacher? Or the school%u2019s atmosphere? Society? One thing we know is that there is no single cause of bullying. How we adults treat each other and how people in society treat each other in general reflects on the children%u2019s world as well. We can teach our children that everyone deserves to be treated as a valuable human being. Who bullies %u2013 and whom? Research shows that some attributes are typical for children who bully others. Some children might have difficulties in other parts of life, or they might have difficulties in feeling empathy toward other people. It is important to understand that anyone can be a bully, even the nicest children, who, in a group, end up mistreating another person. According to current understanding, one of the main reasons for bullying is the bully%u2019s desire to be seen and heard, to gain admiration and power in the group %u2013 in other words, to strengthen their own position. The target of bullying is often a student who is insecure, timid, or already in a socially weaker position in the group. This ensures that the bully reaches their goals more easily and that the group will not rise to oppose the bullying. The persistent notion that a bully is always a child with problems, such as low self-esteem, who uses bullying to vent their own frustrations, is not correct. Many children bully to impress others; this is often accompanied by an unwillingness to see the situation from the perspective of the bullied student.Anyone can be bullied. However, research has identified some characteristics and traits that increase a student%u2019s risk of being bullied. These include shyness and insecurity, as well as impulsivity and difficulty in managing emotions. Students who present physical and social differences, e.g., belong to minority groups (for example, sexual or gender minorities or those with an immigrant background), are also at greater risk of being bullied. However, all of the factors mentioned above only indicate an increased risk, and by no means would lead to systematically being bullied. Although these characteristics can increase the risk of being bullied, bullying is not the fault or the responsibility of the bullied student, their parents, or guardians. Physical or social differences, as well as shyness and insecurity, are not the bullied student%u2019s faults, but rather their qualities that deserve to be accepted.