What Is Bullying?

What is perhaps most interesting about bullying is that many continue to buy into the popular misconception that physical acts of bullying are merely adolescent assertions by boys - or girls - to demonstrate their dominance over a particular territory, be it a physical place or a social hierarchy. From a purely biological standpoint, this understanding of bullying is correct. However, when viewed from a psychological perspective, bullying is more than just a physical display of dominance.

The American Psychological Association defines bullying as the intentional infliction of injury or harm to another person. This injury can take the form of physical assaults as well as verbal and nonverbal actions against another. Thus, bullying not only encompasses aggression, it also implies the intent to harm.

This intent to harm is perhaps the most important and overlooked component of bullying in modern society. Roughhousing by adolescent boys can be viewed as bullying, even when the intent to harm is not present. However, when less subtle forms of bullying occur - name-calling, spreading rumors or gossip, etc. - these acts are sometimes not taken seriously by adults, or even viewed for what they are.

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