Understanding Bullying
What is Bullying?
Have you ever seen someone being mean to another person repeatedly? Maybe you've heard stories or even witnessed it yourself. This behavior might be bullying. But what exactly is bullying, and why is it such a big deal?
Defining Bullying
Bullying is when someone intentionally and repeatedly hurts or harms another person. This isn't just a one-time thing. It's a pattern of behavior. There are three key parts to bullying:
- Intentional Harm: The bully means to cause pain or distress.
- Repetition: The actions happen more than once.
- Power Imbalance: There's an unequal power dynamic. The bully has more social, physical, or other power than the person being bullied. This power imbalance makes it hard for the person being bullied to defend themselves.
Types of Bullying
Bullying isn't always physical. It can take different forms:
- Bullying:
- Repeated and intentional harm caused by one person or group to another.
- Cyberbullying:
- Bullying that happens online or through electronic devices.
- Power Imbalance:
- When one person has more social, physical, or other power over another.
- bystander:
- Someone who sees an event or situation happening, such as bullying, but is not directly involved.
- reputation:
- The general opinion or belief that other people have about a person's character or behavior.
- anxiety:
- A strong feeling of worry, nervousness, or fear that can make it hard to relax.
- harass:
- To bother, disturb, or torment someone repeatedly in an unwanted way.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What are the three key parts that define bullying?
- 2Describe the difference between verbal bullying and social bullying. Provide an example of each.
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About this informational passage for Middle School
“Understanding Bullying” is a informational reading passage about Bullying Prevention, written for Middle School. It takes about 3 minutes to read (520 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.