Why Do Bullies Bully? A Vicious Cycle and Root Causes

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Bullying is a serious problem among teenagers. It’s not just fights in the schoolyard anymore—bullying has spread to the internet and taken an entirely new platform, making it less visible to parents and teachers. But why do bullies bully? Here are five reasons that explain the vicious cycle and root causes of bullying.

Society and Social Reasons

Unfortunately, society teaches us how to respond and react negatively more than positively. Kids pick up on how people are treated and act in public and will mimic that behavior at home or at school, even if they don’t realize it’s wrong. Likewise, kids who haven’t been taught proper social cues and behaviors often become bullies because they don’t understand what is acceptable or not.

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Anonymity of the Internet

Cyber-bullying has become a big problem the last few years, especially among teenagers. The internet can provide anonymity to people who want to speak out, which can be a way for people to post nasty things online without anyone knowing who they are.

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They Don’t Realize It’s Bullying

A lot of the time, especially with cyber-bullying, there is no intention of hurting another person. Often times, cyber-bullying is the result of someone trying to show off or be cool in front of their friends and peers. However, the result hurts another person and can have serious consequences.

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Reflection of Insecurities

When we judge or pick on other people, it is really a reflection of our own insecurities that we are placing on another person. Instead of picking on someone else, bullies should deal with their own insecurities.

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