What is a Bully?

What is a Bully?

A bully is a person who hurts someone else on purpose. Anyone can be a bully, including a stranger, a friend, a brother or sister, a young person or an adult.

Bullying can take many different forms, including: • hitting, kicking or pushing someone • threatening to hurt someone • stealing, hiding or ruining someone's things • making someone do things he or she doesn’t want to do • name-calling • teasing • insulting • refusing to talk to someone (the “silent treatment”) • spreading lies, gossip or rumors about someone

If you’ve been bullied, you’re not alone. Practically everyone has had an experience with a bully at some time. It’s very important to remember that it’s not your fault.

The Bully’s problems

Bullying is a result of the bully’s problems, not your own. Common problems for a bully include: • feelings of not fitting in • problems at home, including divorce and abuse • being bullied by parents, older siblings or others • fear of being picked on • wanting to seem tough • feelings of anger, pain and low self-worth • a need to control other people • lack of caring about how others feel • peer pressure from other bullies