Adolescence

Bullying

Written by: Andrea Pintimalli – Redazione scientifica

Glossary entries in the Adolescence category

INDICE

How can bullying be defined and what are its characteristics?
What are the types of bullying?
What is cyberbullying?
How does the brain react to bullying?
How does the brain react to bullying?

How can bullying be defined and what are its characteristics?

Although there is no universally agreed definition of bullying in studies on the topic, a general description and some characteristics are defined. Bullying refers to threatening and sometimes aggressive behavior, perpetrated by one or more individuals against one or more others, in a dynamic particularly common among young people, especially adolescents.

Furthermore, three characteristics distinguish it:

Intentionality: it is a deliberately enacted behavior towards one or more individuals towards whom aggression is directed;
Power imbalance: aggression is exercised due to a power imbalance that can be determined by the social position of the victim(s) or their isolation. Isolation is also one of the most frequent damages of bullying;
Repetition: bullying acts are repeated over an indefinite period, which contributes to reinforcing the victim(s)’ sense of uncertainty.

Regarding the power imbalance, it is crucial to note that the phenomenon involves not only the aggressor and the victim but also the active or passive participation of a social group to which both bully and victim belong.

What are the types of bullying?

Two types of bullying are generally distinguished: direct and indirect.

Direct: there is a direct relationship between bully and victim;
Indirect: when the victim is affected through attacks on reputation, slander, and similar actions.

In addition, studies distinguish at least four main types of bullying:

Verbal bullying: manifested in insults and other verbal expressions;
Physical bullying: manifested in acts of direct physical violence of varying intensity;
Social bullying: exclusion of the victim from group social life;
CyberbullyingCyberbullying is the enactment via the internet of behaviors... More: a more recent term including all bullying phenomena carried out online. Due to its growing impact, it is increasingly considered a major phenomenon rather than just a type.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that occurs through digital and technological means. It is particularly insidious because it can target the victim 24/7, even when they are in the safety of their home.

Main forms of cyberbullying include:

Online harassment: repeated sending of offensive, threatening, or intimidating messages via social media, email, messaging apps
Digital defamation: spreading gossip, embarrassing photos or videos on social networks or messaging apps
Identity theft: creating fake profiles in the victim’s name to socially damage them
Exclusion: intentional removal of the victim from online groups or class chats
Non-consensual sexting: sharing intimate images or videos of the victim without their consent

How does the brain react to bullying?

The brain responds to the traumatic experience of bullying with the activation of the amygdala"The amygdala is a gray matter structure named after its cha... More, the fear center in the brain, releasing stressWhat is stress? From a clinical perspective, stress is a phy... More hormones like cortisolThe adrenal glands, small pyramid-shaped glands above the ki... More and adrenalineAdrenaline, also called epinephrine, is a hormone and a neur... More, and with a temporary “shutdown” of the prefrontal cortexThe prefrontal cortex plays a fundamental role in numerous p... More, responsible for reasoning, making it difficult to think clearly.

In the medium and long term, the nervous system remains in a state of hypervigilance and the brain can become more sensitive to threats, even overreacting to non-dangerous stimuli. SerotoninSerotonin, also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a ne... More production (the “feel-good” hormone) may decrease, leading to negative moods. Over time, the hippocampusThe hippocampus is a part of the brain located in the inner ... More, involved in memory, may shrink due to chronic stress, neural circuits may develop favoring anxietyAnxiety is an emotional response characterized by feelings o... More and depressionDepression is a disorder characterized by persistent sadness... More, the immune system may weaken due to prolonged stress, and the ability to regulate emotions may be compromised.

What are the consequences of bullying?

The consequences of bullying can be very serious for victims, causing:

Psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, and the hikikomori phenomenon
Decline in school performance
Social isolation
Low self-esteemThe term self-esteem literally refers to the evaluation of o... More
In extreme cases, suicidal ideation

Bibliography

Bannink, R., Broeren, S., van de Looij–Jansen, P. M., de Waart, F. G., & Raat, H. (2014). Cyber and traditional bullying victimization as a risk factor for mental healthWhat is meant by mental health? According to the World Healt... More problems and suicidal ideation in adolescents. PloS one, 9(4), e94026.
Bochaver, A. A. (2022). School bullying as destructive communal copingCoping is the ability to face and manage stress, challenges,... More of the school community. Frontiers in psychology, 13.
Guarino, A., Lancellotti, R., & Serantoni, G. (2011). Bullying: Legal aspects, psychological theories, and intervention techniques, Franco Angeli.
Lomas J., Stough C., Hansen K., Downey L. A. (2012). Brief report: Emotional intelligenceThe first definition of Emotional Intelligence as such was p... More, victimization and bullying in adolescents, Journal of AdolescenceWhat is meant by adolescence? Adolescence is understood as t... More, 35, 207–211.
Luna, P., Guerrero, J., Rodrigo-Ruiz, D., Losada, L., & Cejudo, J. (2020). Social competence and peer social acceptance: Evaluating effects of an educational intervention in adolescents. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 1305.