Get Smart: Understand The Many Types Of Bullying


Dr. Jacqueline Y. Smart
Dr. Jacqueline Y. Smart

Many people believe they can recognize the signs of bullying behavior. Because of this reason, I want you to have a clear understanding of some of the ways that bullying can happen.

Please understand that a child being mean to another does not automatically constitute bullying behavior. We don’t want to minimize mean behavior, but it is important to know the components of bullying. Bullying is an intentional act; it is done to cause harm, fear and shame to his or her victim. Social or relational bullying:

Social bullying, also known as relational bullying, involves the destruction of another person’s reputation and/or relationships. Social bullying includes intended isolation (i.e., excluding a person from a group activity or telling others not to be friends with an individual), spreading rumors, and embarrassing the victim in public. According to Crick and Grotpeter, these acts are defined as “harming others through purposeful manipulation and damage of their peer relationships.” Cyberbullying

Advances in technology have greatly influenced the way young people live their lives. Named so by Bill Belsey, cyberbullying is a term used to define bullying that is done via technology, specifically using the Internet. A victim becomes the target of hateful emails, cell phone calls, pictures, and websites that post hateful messages in an effort to intentionally humiliate and torment a person. Text messaging: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook have become a new outlet for bullying. As with traditional bullying, cyberbullying can occur between one individual and a victim or among a group against a victim. Acting white

Intellectually academic African-American students face daily taunting and intimidation from other black students simply for being academically smart in school. Black students are often told, “You’re acting white” or “You think you’re white” or “You think you’re cute” when their peers hear them speaking “proper” English or excelling in school (Davis 2011). It is sad that in the year 2016 some people still see African Americans being intelligent and academically successful as a white privilege only.

Send your questions and comments to getsmartaboutbullying.blogspot.com or jackiesmart89@gmail.com.


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