Bullying: Characteristics Of Children Who Bully

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Characteristics of Children Who Bully

Children who bully:¹

• May witness physical and verbal violence or aggression at home. They have a positive view of this behavior, and they act aggressively toward other people, including adults.
• May hit or push other children.
• Are often physically strong.
• May or may not be popular with other children around their same age.
• Have trouble following rules.
• Show little concern for the feelings of others.

Many bullies think highly of themselves. They like being looked up to. And they often expect everyone to behave according to their wishes. Children who bully are often not taught to think about how their actions make other people feel.

Some children both bully others and are bullied. They may have been bullied and then lash out at others.

Young people who bully are at a higher risk for smoking tobacco in middle school and drinking alcohol throughout their school years.²

Children who bully are at risk for school failure and dropout and for committing criminal acts later in life.¹

Bullying behavior is a "red flag" that a child has not learned to control his or her aggression. A child who bullies needs counseling to learn healthy ways to interact with people. Professional counseling can guide a child through discovering why bullying is hurtful. Through this process, a counselor can encourage a child to develop empathy, which is being sensitive to and understanding the feelings of others. In some cases, follow-up counseling may involve the parent. Family counseling has been shown to help reduce anger and improve interpersonal relationships in boys with bullying behavior.³

Last updated:	January 31, 2007
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Frederick P. Rivara, MD, MPH - Pediatrics
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC