Bullying is generally defined as "aggressive and unwanted behavior", which "involves a real or perceived power imbalance" and which often recurs over time. It is one of the most demanding challenges that young people today face and, consequently, it has finally become a problem at the center of meaningful discussions among teachers, parents and members of many communities. If you have a problem related to bullying or if you know someone who is a victim of it, consult the advice given in this article to find a way to solve the problem.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Engage Adults
Step 1. Find people who are in positions of authority and who can help you
Bullies take advantage of the people around them because they think they have the power to do it. They don't have it. Identify the people who are really in charge, so you can ask them for help. It is their responsibility to stop bullying.
Step 2. If the first adult you talk to isn't willing to help you, try talking to someone else
Bullying has become a serious topic of discussion in recent years, and is therefore difficult to ignore. In the past, however, it could often happen that adults downplayed the problem, arguing that young people should be able to solve their problems on their own, or advising victims to just ignore the bullies. The ever-increasing awareness of the problem, however, has made these claims misplaced. Even the government has taken a strong stand against bullying, and is committed to drafting guidelines to help young people affected by this phenomenon. Some adults may not have understood the hint, but more and more people nowadays have understood that bullies cannot be tolerated any longer.
Step 3. Talk to your parents
It will certainly be annoying to see that some adults will refuse to listen to them, but if those in duty do not prove to be by your side and willing to take you seriously, they will at least be forced to listen to your parents. School managers and their collaborators often do not adequately respect the young people they are obliged to supervise, but generally they cannot avoid taking their parents seriously, since they are the very ones who have entrusted them with authority over their children. If they still refuse to face the situation, at least your parents will be able to start evaluating other ways to escape that environment. However, they will not be able to start considering this option if you do not speak to them first.
Method 2 of 3: Deal with the Situation Alone
Step 1. Trust yourself
Bullies often target people who seem vulnerable or too cautious. If necessary, "pretend" to be sure of yourself. You may find, after all, that you are really proud of yourself.
Don't look away when a bully stares at you. Stay calm, acknowledge his presence and continue doing what you wanted. If you should appear scared or appear to be expecting some problem, they may think they really have power over you
Step 2. Confront the bully
It does not mean that you will have to physically confront him or threaten to harm him, but you will have to make it clear that you are not afraid of him. It won't be easy, but it is necessary. Bullies seek victims - you will be less likely to be targeted if you refuse to be treated as such.
Step 3. Develop a wider circle of friends
Bullies often target isolated individuals. If you have a lot of friends, they will be less likely to rage on you, for two very specific reasons. First of all, in case the bully makes physical threats to you, being around others will make you seem more protected. In the case of those bullies who prefer to insult others, however, their offensive statements will seem less meaningful if you are surrounded by people who really know and appreciate you.
Step 4. Remember that you don't have to be defined by what bullies say or do
The words or actions of others do not determine your worth. You are worth who you are - the little moments in your life that are ruined by a bully don't have to affect what's really important to you.
Method 3 of 3: Responding to Cyberbullying
Step 1. Try to understand the bully's purpose
Cyberbullying can be more complex than the typical neighborhood bully stereotype. While traditional bullying often aims to make the bully himself seem more powerful than his victims, cyberbullying is very often anonymous. While the person who spreads slander or tries to humiliate others online may end up feeling powerful, their goal is usually to damage someone's reputation. He will also generally not limit his audience to people he knows in person or himself or the victim of his aggressive actions. For all these reasons, cyberbullying can be difficult to stop and complicated to prevent.
Step 2. Talk to your parents or a legal guardian
If someone harasses or threatens you, it's important that they know about it. Many of the steps you can take to get rid of an online bully can be complex, and it is advisable to inform those in charge of the situation as soon as possible.
Step 3. Evaluate your chances
Due to the complexity of the phenomenon of cyberbullying, there are seldom simple solutions, but it is possible to take advantage of options that are not generally available in cases of traditional bullying.
- In many cases, in fact, the school authorities will not deal with dealing with cases of cyberbullying; in fact, unless there is evidence that bullies use school property to do their stunts online, they may not have the legal authority to intervene.
- Many service providers and online companies, such as Facebook, consider cyberbullying to be a serious issue and may intervene if you contact them. On some sites, it may also be possible to block bullies, in order to prevent them from accessing your profile.
- You and your family may also have some legal options available. Online content can be irrefutable evidence of harassment or threats. Threats of violence - including online - can lead to serious legal consequences. If it seems like a bit of an extreme solution, still try to keep in mind that you have this type of possibility, as well as the power to change the situation.
Step 4. Confront the bully
This step is also expected in the case of a traditional bully, but it could still be the quickest way to resolve the situation online. Make it clear to everyone that you don't feel intimidated by the cyberbully. Ignore his posts and delete his abusive comments as much as possible.
Step 5. Step away from the bully
It is one of the strategies recommended even for traditional bullies, but which often does not work in everyday life. It is actually quite difficult to ignore someone standing right in front of you, which may be easier to do online. As a last resort, if all else has not worked, try closing your accounts - if you find your online relationships vital, you could create a new account to replace the old one, but remember to take all the necessary steps to discourage anyway. the bully to track you down once again.
