Bullying is a type of physical or psychological mistreatment towards minors, exercised by other classmates. New technologies and the easy access to them have influenced the increase of cases. The consequences can be fatal for children, leaving them with lifelong consequences. Hence the importance of detecting cases of bullying in time, to take action and help the victim as soon as possible.
Bullying: what it is and types
Bullying is a form of violence or physical or psychological mistreatment, repeated over time, which is exercised by minors on other minors in their environment, either in their school environment or in other environments where minors carry out extracurricular activities. As a form of violence, there are two types of bullying: physical and/or psychological.
Physical bullying, less frequent than psychological bullying, is characterized by physical violence against a peer. It is more frequent among boys and consists of repeated pushing and shoving and hitting by one or more classmates, reaching the point of beatings in the most extreme cases, which are even recorded and “posted” on social networks. Sexual bullying, which is rare in children, is also a form of physical bullying.
Psychological bullying is more subtle and difficult to objectify initially, due to its different modalities. It is exercised more frequently among girls. It consists of repeated, malicious and intentional attacks against the child’s dignity, in order to intimidate and socially isolate him/her among his/her peers. For this purpose, coercion, intimidation, mockery, nicknames, gestures of contempt, ridicule and ridicule are used. These are humiliations that the victim experiences in silence and solitude. The intensity and frequency of these behaviors increases over time and can lead to threats and, finally, to physical bullying.
Influence of new technologies in the increase of bullying cases
The ease of use of new technologies as a means to maintain social relationships and maintain status within the group, as well as not being “observed” by third parties, facilitates carrying out these bullying behaviors in silence or with the complicity of third parties. The ease of use and access, as well as the universality of social networks, has led to the rise of this form of violence, as well as a generalization to exercise harassment in environments and by people who may not even know the victim.
Vulnerable groups to suffer bullying
The stage of greatest risk is at the beginning of adolescence, between the ages of 9 and 14 years, which is a stage of incomplete maturation. Thus, between 9 and 11 years of age, psychological bullying is more frequent, while between 11 and 15 years of age, cyberbullying is more common and, in children over 15 years of age, physical bullying is more common. On the other hand, children who suffer bullying are usually very sensitive and shy children. There is also another group of children prone to suffer Bullying different from the previous one, which are children with limitations or functional diversity, such as Asperger’s Syndrome or Down Syndrome.
Consequences of Bullying in children
Children who suffer Bullying develop fears, fears and insecurities, because the harassment, when maintained over time, triggers psychological sequelae by undermining their self-esteem. In adolescence it can cause them difficulties to seek and maintain social contacts, which are the fundamental support at this stage of growth and maturity as individuals. They feel lonely and socially excluded and, for this reason, psychiatrists see quite a lot of self-injurious behaviors at this stage. These consequences can lead to very serious emotional disorders, such as depressive disorders, and can even lead to suicide.
Recommended treatment in cases of bullying
Various therapeutic and preventive strategies are used to treat bullying, in order to help the child to overcome the damage done to him/her, increase his/her self-esteem and avoid the development of subsequent sequelae.
These are not short-term treatments, but require follow-up and monitoring of the child’s development.
On the other hand, intervention with the family is a key part of the treatment, always in coordination with the school. It could be said that it is a multidisciplinary approach with a triple approach: individual with the child, with the family and with the school.
What parents can do to avoid bullying cases
The main recommendation is to encourage dialogue with their children on a daily basis. Show interest in their daily life at school, not only in school results, but also in what happens outside the classroom: who they play with, what they play, who their friends are, if there has been any incident with them or with other children, etc. In general, make the child feel comfortable talking about his or her daily life so that, in the event of bullying, he or she does not become a victim who suffers in silence, with after-effects.
However, it is also necessary to observe if the child changes his/her behavior, if he/she is less communicative, if he/she isolates him/herself at home, if he/she is sad or permanently angry. These are all warning signs.
It is also important to be “vigilant in the shadows” with the use of new technologies: the use he makes of his cell phone, the conversations he has, with whom he talks…
What to do if your child is being bullied
First of all, and with the utmost discretion, so as not to raise an alarm that may further harm the child, it is important to contact the director of the center, so that appropriate measures are taken for the immediate cessation of bullying, as there are protocols for action in the centers.
On the other hand, it should also be communicated to the pediatrician, who is the health professional who must follow the evolution of the physical and psychological health of minors.
It is also necessary to offer our child the support of a professional, a psychologist, to help him/her to get out of his/her “silence” and, at the same time, to guide the parents in the management of the situation. In the most serious cases in which emotional disorders exist, it is convenient that he/she is also assisted by a doctor expert in Psychiatry.
If the bullying is physical, a medical center or pediatrician should be consulted to treat the injuries. In this environment, the complaint process begins with a report of injuries, which will be processed in the corresponding duty court from the health center. Subsequently, the child must also receive psychological help.
If the case is clear and evident, and the child agrees, it would be an effective measure to change school.
On the other hand, it is also convenient to denounce, even if they are minors, since no type of violence can be tolerated, and even less so when there are more and more victims and more perpetrators. They are minors, but they are not unpunished and our obligation, as adults, is to put all the measures within our reach, to redirect, for their good, their anomalous conducts. However, the sanctioning legislation treats the minor as what he is, a minor.