Bullying At School: Part IV

According to Stacy DeBroff, author of "The Parent Book Goes to School", bullying is a behavior pattern most often learned at home. Bullies often lack close relationships with their parents; this can be the reason they are unable to feel empathy. Also, if a child is physically or emotionally abused, this may cause the thinking that it is alright to interact with others using violent behavior.

While most bullies suffer from low self-esteem, most tend to be outgoing and egotistical. They desire power, think they have a right to control other people's thoughts, actions, and possessions. If you observe an incident of bullying or the school calls you in because you has been involved, recognize the typical defensive reactions of a bully:

1. The bully will deny doing anything wrong or trivialize the event by claiming it was all innocent teasing or fun.

2. He counts on the support of the bystanders to deny the victim's side of the story.

3. He blames the victim for the problem, effectively escaping responsibility by casting the bullied child as the bully.

Bullies are very domineering children. they are usually outspoken, aggressive, controlling, and think nothing is wrong with their behavior. Usually, they're kids with unsupportive parents, but sometimes they have parents who give them too much attention without censoring their bad behavior. Make sure you recognize if your child is a bully by how they interact with siblings and friends.