Bullying

From one angle, it is not easy to define bullying, in view of the fact that “what may be very fair treatment to one person, is nothing short of bullying or harassment to another.” In the same way, as each human being has a diverse threshold of anguish, both physically and psychologically, so what is bullying or harassment to one person may be nil but harmless fun to another.

Additionally difficulties take place because of the troubles connected with deciding at what point certain behaviour becomes bullying. Deciding on the permanence of certain unconstructive and unwanted behaviors constitutes another problem. Inaccessible incidents do not reveal the bullying behaviour, however there is a distinct time factor on it - weeks, months and even years - is necessary for it to be categorized as bullying behaviour.

One definition views the following statement:

• "Bullying in terms of its negative impact on the victim, and sees it as the negative and damaging treatment of another in such a manner that is causes the target to suffer and feel humiliated or vulnerable, and which has a detrimental and stressful effect on him/her".

At the same time as with harassment, bullying is defined basically by the impact of the behaviour on the recipient, and not its objective. Bullying may possibly therefore be seen mainly in terms of antagonism, or long-standing violent behavior, physical or psychological, conducted by an individual or a group, and intended for against an individual who is not able to defend him/herself in the actual situation.

Some common forms of bullying are:

• verbal exploitation – e.g. constant taunting
• bodily violence or violent gestures
• public embarrassment of an employee

Bullying can be more subtle, such as:

• giving somebody an unattainable deadline
• removing an employee's everyday jobs and give them more unskilled tasks
• withholding information or giving forged information

It is imperative, for the sake of exactness that the substantial and psychological aspects of bullying are included in. Bullying is "impressive that goes on repeatedly and increasingly over a period of time, and is not just a one-off act of aggressive behaviour".

Questions:

• What is meant by insulting behaviour?
• What are the methods in which one can overcome bullying?