There are a multitude of risk factors that need to be addressed if we are going to eliminate the causes of bullying. Children from violent homes are three to four times more likely to become a bully. Poor supervision and neglect of the child s needs. Acceptance and modeling of aggressive or bullying behaviors by parents or older siblings. Bullies like to be in charge, dominate, and assert their power.
Bullies lack empathy for their victims and have difficulty feeling compassion.
Schools in poor urban neighborhoods experience more violence in and around the schools. People feel less safe in neighborhoods where there is evidence of crack houses and drug dealing and related violence. This spills over into the neighborhood schools where there is more drug dealing related violence. Schools located in neighborhoods with high turn over also have more bullying.