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Cyberbullying : Causes, And Deadly Consequences Of Bullying

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Bullying may ultimately lead to deadly consequences for the victims, the tormentors, and the bystanders. Typically, bullying originates in school or other establishments that contain large and diversified groups of young people; cases are most commonly reported between late childhood and early adolescence; and it happens all around the world in different forms on a daily basis. A single case of bullying may cause a type of ripple effect that may branch out in unexpected directions. It is important for communities to 1) be aware that bullying is a serious and worldwide issue, 2) distinguish the common characteristics of bullies in order take the appropriate measures of prevention, and 3) promote the zero-tolerance policy on bullying.
What is Bullying?
In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Department of Education released the first official definition of bullying: “unwanted aggressive behavior; observed or perceived power imbalance; and repetition of behaviors or high likelihood of repetition” (Gladden et al., 2014). Bullying can take on several forms; however, Suzanne W. Peck, the author of STAND TALL—a book that contains lessons that “teach respect and prevent bullying”—, states that there are four main forms of bullying: physical, verbal, relational, and virtual (Peck, 2014). Physical bullying refers to aggressive or negative acts such as hitting, kicking, shoving, spitting, stealing, making practical jokes, and inappropriate touching (including sexual assault).

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