Bullies are controlling, hot tempered and lack empathy for others.
Victims lack social skills, blame themselves for their problems and are afraid to go to school.
These traits are among the most common indicators of bullying and victim behaviors in children, according to a new study at Ohio University. Researchers here have developed a list of 19 characteristics common to bullies and 21 characteristics common to victims. The list could be used by parents, teachers and child therapists to identify which children may become bullies or victims before problems become serious, said Richard Hazler, lead author of the study and professor of counselor education at Ohio University. Working with a team of researchers from Ohio University and Tri-County Mental Health Services in Athens, Ohio, Hazler asked a group of international experts on school bullies and victims to review a list of 70 characteristics identified in various studies of bullies and victims. The experts rated the degree of significance of each characteristic in the identification of either bullies or victims.