Some 7 percent of America's eighth-graders stay home at least once a month because of bullies. Being bullied often increases isolation, depression, and low self-esteem, problems that can affect victims for the rest of their lives Bullies Bullies often come from homes where physical punishment is used and where children are taught to strike back physically as a way of handling problems. They thus believe that it is all right for stronger children to hit weaker children. Bullies frequently lack parental warmth and involvement and seem to desire power and control. They derive satisfaction from inflicting injury and suffering and have little empathy for their victims.
Conventional wisdom holds that bullies act because they lack self-esteem and are insecure.
On the contrary, bullies appear to suffer little anxiety and possess strong self-esteem. Victims Passive loners are the most frequent and most typical victims, especially if they cry easily or lack social self-defense skills. Many are unable to deflect a conflict with humor and don't think quickly on their feet. Victims are typically anxious, insecure, cautious, and suffer from low self-esteem. They rarely defend themselves or retaliate and tend to lack friends, making them easy to isolate.