What is bullying?

What is bullying?

‘Bullying is a deliberate act which causes emotional or physical harm to an individual or group by another more powerful individual or group which results in the victim feeling unsafe’ (Cornwall Youth Forum’s Definition.)

Types of bullying

• Physical – kicking, punching, pushing, pinching
• Verbal – using unkind words, name-calling, whispering, threats, mimicking, making jokes
• Emotional - not letting person join in, spreading stories, giving people mean looks, hiding things, laughing behind their backs, damaging peoples things, turning friends against them, extortion (stealing)
• Disability – because of physical or mental abilities / disabilities
• Cyber bullying – using internet, MSN, mobile phones, Bebo, Facebook, gaming devices
• Racist – using words or actions because of someone’s colour, culture, origin, nationality
• Homophobia – is when someone is singled out or victimised just because they are lesbian or gay or bisexual or transgender (LGBT), or people think they might be, or they have friends who are (and so on, and so on!). More information on being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender is available here.