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Bullying

Bullying is a distinctive pattern of deliberately harming and humiliating others. It's a very durable behavioral style, largely because bullies get what they want—at least at first. Bullies are made, not born, and it happens at an early age, if the normal aggression of two-year-olds isn't handled well.

Bullies couldn't exist without victims, and they don't pick on just anyone; those singled out lack assertiveness and radiate fear long before they ever encounter a bully. No one likes a bully, but no one likes a victim either. Grown-up bullies wreak havoc in their relationships and in the workplace.

Just Who Is a Bully?

Big Bad Bully

How kids—and parents—can wrestle with a bully.

by Hara Estroff Marano

When the Boss Is a Bully

Offices can bring out the bully in people—and what to do about it.

by Hara Estroff Marano

Of Bullies and the Bullied

Peer rejection can create a lifelong tendency to depression.

by PT Staff

Do Mean Girls in School Become Mean Women at Work?

What happens when mean girls grow up?

by Dr. Gabriela Cora in Alpha Females

When Big Brothers Bully

Sibling animosity during childhood can impact later life.

by Megan Olden

See Also

Solving the Problem

Assertiveness, Not Aggressiveness

Assertiveness means standing up for yourself in a nonaggressive way.

by Hara Estroff Marano

Advice: He's Miserable at School

How to know if the social climate at school is impacting academic performance.

by Hara Estroff Marano

Fending Off Bullies

Self-confidence is the best way to fight bullies.

by Hara Estroff Marano

Social Play and the Genesis of Democracy

In play childen learn that they are the adults.

by Peter Gray in Freedom to Learn

Why We Should Stop Segregating Children by Age: Part II--The Unique Educative Qualities of Age-Mixed Play

Age-mixed play is more playful than same-age play.

by Peter Gray in Freedom to Learn

Time to End the Bully Witch-Hunt

You are not entitled to a life in which everyone is always nice to you.

by Izzy Kalman in A Psychological Solution to Bullying

Dealing with a Bully Boss

How to handle a power-tripping boss.

by Hara Estroff Marano

See Also

Bullying Tests

Hostility

Do you lose your cool too easily?
Assertiveness

Do you stand up for yourself?
More Tests

The Latest on Bullying

What do all of us need to know about childhood teasing? by Leon F. Seltzer, Ph.D.
How to help your adolescent stop being bullied. by Carl Pickhardt, Ph.D.
Have you been the victim of a workplace bully? by Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D.
An epidemic of antisocial children. by Marisa Mauro, Psy.D.
What can possibly be wrong with holding bullies accountable? by Izzy Kalman
Parents can help their adolescent when other kids act mean. by Carl Pickhardt, Ph.D.
Here's what PBS missed about friendship by Bella DePaulo, Ph.D.
For social survival, early adolescents can treat each other mean. by Carl Pickhardt, Ph.D.
Teen suicides, cyber/gang bullying, and drug/alcohol use is at epidemic levels. by Steve Sisgold
Why it is impossible for anti-bully laws to get rid of bullying. by Izzy Kalman

Bullying Blogs

Current Issue

Heartbreak and Home Runs: The Power of First Experiences

How early life experiences shape our character.