The parent of the docile child will either angrily exhort her child to fight back at a time when she is not capable, or play the role of the protector. The parent s anger and embarrassment will drive home the docile child s sense of helplessness and inadequacy. Parents should leave their children to hammer out the situation on their own. The minute parents step into the picture, it becomes an adult situation. However, if the children cannot cope even after being left to their own devices, then parents should steer them towards playmates of a similar temperament.
Children are more likely to learn from playmates of a similar temperament.
If parents of a docile child push her to be more aggressive or gregarious, they are merely giving her the message that they do not approve of her the way she is. Parents of aggressive children will find that when such children are thrown together with other aggressors, they are likely to become bosom buddies as aggression on both sides somehow balances out. Bullies are insecure children who combat their insecurity through aggression. Bullying behaviour tend to fall into a vicious circle. Children distance themselves from bullies and as the bullies are more and more isolated, their insecurity increases and so do their bullying tactics in an attempt to hide their vulnerability.