Is your child displaying anxious behavior and particularly dreads to go to school? Here’s something that he might be reluctant to tell you…
Ashwin, has a girth and body structure that rules out all possibilities of him being a nine year old school going boy. Obesity is not the only thing Ashwin is grappling with. His stammer has made him laughing stock of the class. His classmates and seniors often bully him. Despite his physical strength, he is unable to combat the attacks from his classmates. Once while trying to run from one of the seniors during lunch break, Ashwin rammed into a glass window shattering it. The seniors complained to the teacher and the teacher without bothering to find out the details of the incident immediately detained Ashwin further shattering whatsoever faith and confidence he had in him.
Only when an eye-witness reported the incident to the school authorities, were Ashwin’s parents as well as Psychologist summoned. He brought to notice that their child was a victim of Bullying. The school authorities as well as his parents were flabbergasted.
According to American Psychological Association (APA), “Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior in which someone intentionally and repeatedly causes another person injury or discomfort. Bullying can take the form of physical contact, words or more subtle actions.” Bullying can be physical, verbal, emotional or psychological. You can also read our article on Teach you Kids how to Deal with bullying: anti bullying Tips
Psychological Effects of Bullying:
Victims of bullying may display a range of emotions and behaviors. Their outburst could either be directed to themselves or towards the society in general.
- Personal vengeance: They may retract into a shell and avoid communicating to those around them. They keep sulking in a corner, often shunning contact with others. Such signs of isolation are important to watch out for. In extreme cases they may even attempt to take their lives.
- Social Vengeance: Victims of bullying may also resort to displacement of anger directed towards the society in general. They could direct their anger towards things and objects since they cannot bravely put their foot down. They may end up tearing off pages from their books, spilling ink or damaging school property.
Prevent your kids from becoming Bullies:
As important it is to protect are children from getting victimized due to bullying, it is also vital to ensure that a child doesn’t assume the role of the ‘Bully’ himself and traumatize the seemingly vulnerable. Often social stereotypes can encourage bullying unknowingly. It is important what sort of images we paint in front of our kids. It is often thought and taught that the geeky, sensitive, shy, meek, over-weight and socially awkward kids are weak. Hence they can be looked down and trampled upon.
Also, kids who bully others often have an inferiority complex which they try to hide by being aggressive and dominating. It is important to let them know that others may be different from them and they cannot under any circumstances have their way with others who find it difficult to stand up for themselves. It is important to make your kids understand they do not have the right to belittle anybody neither get walked upon like a doormat by anyone.
