During our lifetime we will come in contact with people that are rude or mean, and although it is a bit frustrating interacting with those people, we can tolerate their behavior as it only occurs sometimes. Unfortunately, we will also come into contact with people that are aggressive, threatens, teases and harasses people on a daily basis. Those types of individuals would be considered Bullies and their actions is considered Bullying. Now many of you are probably wondering whether Bullying behavior is a genetic behavior or a learned behavior. I wonder the same thing.
According to the National Association of School Psychologists the behavior is a learned behavior that is learned through the environment such as home, school, as well as the media. The NASP also claim that it can be un-learned as well as prevented. Rashmi Shetgiri, MD, FAAP, assistant professor of pediatrics at University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, and colleagues did a survey that lasted four years. They researched the amount of Bullying as well as the factors that led to Bullying. At the conclusion of their survey they were able to determine that the kids who were considered Bullies rose from 23% in 2003 to 35% in 2007. The factors for the increase were feelings of neglect and anger the kids experienced from their parents. Emotional, Behavioral and developmental issues were also found to be common among these kids.
Through research it has been found that kids that are Bullies have either witnessed or been victims of physical and/or emotional abuse from their parents or others close to them. They often use Bullying to hide their pain and to fill the void in their lives. Most bullies have witnessed physical violence in their home since they could remember and mimic that behavior because that’s what they were taught to do or learned from the people they