Eric Abbott
11/21/14
Joseph D. Irish LCSW-R
Sociology 111
Bullying exists in many forms which affect people physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Bullying is when a person or group of people use intimidation, insults or violence to make another individual feel scared or inferior. The views and beliefs about bullying have changed. Years ago it used to be considered as not a danger to the victim and that it would help children learn how to “toughen up.” Now bullying is considered a health issue as well as a threat. Bullying is no longer considered just a school age problem. It can continue or start for people at high school age, college age or even as an adult. More recently the awareness of bullying has brought the …show more content…
Some are victims of abuse at home, some have low self-esteem and some bully out of peer pressure because the victim may be considered different. Those who are victims of abuse at home may lash out and find a victim of their own to act out their own pain, or take their own form of control. It can be a way for them to reach out for help so as people become more aware of the problem, it may help the victim as well as the bully who is a victim themselves. Sometimes children who have low self-esteem or a form or a disability they want to hide keep themselves from becoming victims of bullying by becoming the bully or a follower of the bully. The peer pressure bullies sometime behave this way because they want to fit it. They think that if they make someone else look bad, they will look better. Sadly this has been a part of the growing up process that many children …show more content…
It may still consist of similar actions from the bully such as the name calling, exclusion and violence, but as they become older the reasons may change for both being the victim and being the bully. As teenagers and young adults, people are influenced more by peer pressure and what may or may not be accepted by society. At this age, the victims tend to not fit in to the social beliefs, or they may threaten the person who in turn becomes the bully against them. One reason which has become more apparent in recent years is sexual orientation. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender sexual orientation persons have become a major targets of bullies. Despite many attempts at stopping this violence, bias crimes against these individuals still occur. Many people become victims because others, namely the bully and other peers, do not understand homosexuality or bisexuality. This is an issue that has escalated to the point of some serious affects. Some victims become so withdrawn and depressed that they become suicidal. On rare occasions, some victims could become violent and lash out at the bullies or even at other innocent victims to make themselves feel