Bullying is a form of aggressive behaviour that involves repeated and intentional harm or humiliation of another person, often in a situation where there is a power imbalance. Bullying can take many forms, such as physical, verbal, social or cyberbullying. Bullying can have negative effects on the victims, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, academic problems and even suicidal thoughts.

While bullying is often associated with children and adolescents, it can also occur among adults. Adults who bully children may do so for various reasons, such as:

  • Insecurity: Some adults may feel insecure about themselves or their own abilities and try to boost their ego by putting down others who are weaker or more vulnerable than them. They may also feel threatened by the potential or achievements of the children and try to sabotage their success or confidence.
  • Frustration: Some adults may experience frustration or stress in their personal or professional lives and vent their anger or dissatisfaction on the children who are under their authority or influence. They may also lack effective coping skills or emotional regulation and resort to bullying as a way of expressing their emotions or relieving their tension.
  • Control: Some adults may have a need for control or dominance over others and use bullying as a means of asserting their power or status. They may also enjoy the feeling of superiority or satisfaction that comes from making others suffer or obey them.
  • Lack of empathy: Some adults may lack empathy or compassion for others and fail to understand or care about the feelings or needs of the children they bully. They may also have a distorted view of themselves or others and justify their actions as deserved or necessary.
  • Learned behaviour: Some adults may have learned to bully from their own experiences as victims or perpetrators of bullying in their childhood or adulthood. They may also have been influenced by the social norms or expectations of their family, peer group, workplace or culture that condone or encourage bullying.

Regardless of the reasons, adults who bully children are responsible for their actions and should be held accountable for the harm they cause. Bullying is not acceptable in any situation and should be prevented and stopped by all means possible. Children who are bullied should be supported and protected by their parents, teachers, friends and other adults who care about them. They should also be encouraged to seek help from professionals if needed. Bullying can be overcome by fostering a culture of respect, kindness and empathy among all people.

Why do adults who bully children exist?

Bibliography:

  1. Bradshaw, C. P., Sawyer, A. L., & O'Brennan, L. M. (2007). Bullying and peer victimization at school: Perceptual differences between students and school staff. School Psychology Review, 36(3), 361-382.
  2. Espelage, D. L., & Swearer, S. M. (2003). Research on school bullying and victimization: What have we learned and where do we go from here? School Psychology Review, 32(3), 365-383.
  3. Leff, S. S., Waasdorp, T. E., & Paskewich, B. S. (2019). Bullying prevention and intervention: Realistic strategies for schools. Guilford Publications.
  4. Olweus, D. (1993). Bullying at school: What we know and what we can do. Blackwell Publishers.
  5. Smith, P. K., Pepler, D., & Rigby, K. (Eds.). (2004). Bullying in schools: How successful can interventions be?. Cambridge University Press.
  6. Swearer, S. M., Espelage, D. L., Vaillancourt, T., & Hymel, S. (2010). What can be done about school bullying? Linking research to educational practice. Educational Researcher, 39(1), 38-47.

Important words to remember from this essay:

- Bullying
- Aggressive
- Harm
- Humiliation
- Power imbalance
- Insecurity
- Frustration
- Control
- Empathy
- Learned behaviour