But like sexual harassment, bullying is no longer being tolerated. Bully prevention programs in schools have gained momentum in the past 12-18 months. For starters, there is more bullying than in the past. Educators are telling us that kids are coming to school and using an aggressive way of problem solving. There are also new tools to help.
Bullies are kids who are intentionally mean to other kids on a regular basis.
The bully has more power than the victim, and uses it in hurtful, negative ways. The power may result from being older, physically larger, athletically stronger, or socially savvier. Often, bullies have learned bullying behavior from their home environments. The negative examples provided in media depictions of violence may be another possible influence. It used to be thought that all bullies had low self-esteem, but newer research indicates that many bullies think overly grandiose thoughts about themselves.