Bullying takes place most frequently in school. Most bullying is verbal rather than physical. Bullying begins in elementary school, peaks in middle school, and falls off in high school. It does not, however, disappear altogether. Boys bully both boys and girls.
Girls tend to bully girls.
Although boys are more often the perpetrators and victims of bullying, girls tend to bully in more indirect ways, manipulating friendships, ostracizing classmates, and spreading malicious rumors. Both bullies and onlookers tend to blame the victims for the treatment they receive. Although most victims don't look very different from their classmates, they are taunted most often because of their physical appearance. Boys who are chronically victimized tend to be more passive and physically weaker than their tormentors. In middle school, girls who mature early are commonly victims of harassment.