The
Aggressive
child
It is imperative for us as teachers to recognize, that a bully may come in all shapes, sizes, ages and race.
It is essential to note that research proposes, that half of those who are identified as bullies are also reported victims; meaning, bullies and victims are commonly undivided. Research suggests that those who are both victims and bullies exhibit elevated levels of both depression and aggression. They also score at a low level on measures of academic competence, social acceptance, self- esteem, self-control, and pro-social behaviour. Other factors that may be linked to a raised level of partaking in bullying behaviour include: harsh parenting by caregivers, impulsivity and attitudes of accepting violence.
Bullying can result in social and emotional suffering, physical injury, and even death. Youth who bully others are at increased risk for substance use, academic problems, and violence later in adolescence and adulthood. Compared to youth who only bully, or who are only victims, bully-victims undergo the gravest consequences and are at higher risk for both mental health and behavior problems.
Even teachers can be bullies!