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Why do people bully?
Find out what the research says.
If you’ve ever been bullied, you’ll probably have wondered what it is the makes people bully and why they do it.
The Anti Bullying Centre at Trinity College Dublin conducts a variety of research into bullying, as well as offering resources to victims. As part of their work, they have identified the most common reasons why people bully.
Some people seem to be born with a tendency towards aggressive behaviour, but this aggression can be aggravated by their home life, school life or even wider society.
Aggressive behaviour (like bullying), needs to be dealt with when a person is young, otherwise there is a danger that the aggression could worsen with age and that the person could even enter a life of crime.
The following home factors increase the likelihood of bullying/aggression:
- Abuse in the form of cruelty or neglect.
- Physical violence in the home between parents or other adults.
- Excessive physical punishment.
- Lack of love and attention.
- Lack of discipline.
- Excessive amounts of freedom.
- Parents not dealing with the aggression.
The following school factors increase the likelihood of bullying/aggression:
- Lack of supervision.
- Harsh or humiliating punishment.
- Low staff morale.
- Lack of rewards for good behaviour.
- A school curriculum that doesn’t allow students to feel proud or successful.
Research has also demonstrated that wider societal factors play a part in bullying, such as violence on TV and in the movies. In fact, children who regularly watch violent scenes on TV are more likely to be aggressive.
If you’d like to read more about this topic, click here to go to the Anti Bullying Centre website.
The Anti-Bullying Centre
Web: www.abc.tcd.ie
Email: lmcguire@tcd.ie
Phone: 01 8962573/896 3488
The Anti-Bullying Centre was set up initially as an independent research body targeting the area of bullying, a course it continues to follow. The resource side of their work, including their counselling and "victim support" aspects, evolved as a result of this research.
