Will Bullying Ever Disappear?
I grew up in a society where bullying was seen as just another way of expressing yourself — and, sadly, it was widely accepted. Very few people stepped in to stop the excesses of poorly raised children. And yes, I use that term deliberately: poorly raised.
Part of what we teach our children at home should be care and empathy toward others. Just as we don’t want our child to be pushed or hit, they must also understand that such actions are unacceptable in any context. Beyond physical force, mockery and insults are equally harmful.
At that delicate age when the line between innocent play and emotional harm is so thin, children need the watchful eyes of adults — parents, teachers, relatives. The real question is: where does bullying end? Will it ever disappear from our relationships, especially the adult ones we see every day?
What Is Bullying, Really?
Bullying is the use of force, coercion, hurtful teasing, or threats to abuse, dominate, or intimidate someone.
Verbal bullying is perhaps the most common form — insults, humiliation, threats, or sarcastic remarks. Girls tend to engage in this type of bullying more subtly, while boys are often more direct. What’s worse is that bullying often happens in front of a silent audience. Without intervention, it becomes part of a group’s culture, spreading and persisting for years.
A bully usually projects their own insecurities onto their target. The cruelty we witness is often a reflection of their internal struggle — a desperate attempt to gain control over their own feelings of weakness.
Bullying at Work: The Adult Version
Bullying doesn’t end when we grow up — it just changes form. Workplace bullying happens when an employee is persistently mistreated by others, causing emotional or psychological harm. It can involve verbal, nonverbal, or even physical abuse and humiliation.
Unlike in school, workplace bullies often operate within organizational rules, masking their aggression under the guise of professionalism. Most often, the perpetrators are in positions of power, but not always — peers and even subordinates can be bullies too.
The first documented use of the term “workplace bullying” appeared in 1992, in Andrea Adams’ book Bullying at Work: How to Confront and Overcome It.
A Deviant Behavior That Should Have No Place in Society
Deviant behaviors like bullying shouldn’t be tolerated; they should naturally disappear. Unfortunately, they persist. Yet, I’m hopeful. I see younger generations who are more aware, more intolerant of bullying because they haven’t seen it normalized at home.
Bullying simply doesn’t belong in a modern society that values acceptance, empathy, and diversity. And maybe, with enough awareness, we’ll see it fade away for good.
Power, Fear, and Control
The verb to bully means to “force one’s way aggressively or through intimidation.” That definition applies to more than just the schoolyard. It can describe any person who uses fear to achieve their goals — a dictator, a gang leader, a manipulative manager, or even someone within a family dynamic.
As psychologist Pauline Rennie-Peyton points out, any of us can face bullying at any stage of life. Sometimes it’s subtle; other times, it’s painfully obvious.
And in today’s world, it’s not only humans who are targeted. In a surprising study, children were observed bullying human-like robots — blocking their movement, verbally abusing them, and even destroying them. Seventy-five percent of those children saw the robots as “human,” yet chose to hurt them anyway. A third admitted doing it “for fun.”
It’s a chilling reminder that cruelty doesn’t come from ignorance alone — it comes from what we fail to teach.
What Can We Do?
Bullying rarely happens just once — it’s a pattern that continues unless stopped. Common reactions like ignoring it, confronting the bully, or turning to authority figures often fail if not supported by a strong, empathetic environment.
Ignoring bullying rarely works; it tends to get worse over time. The earlier it’s addressed, the easier it is to manage. Bystanders play a crucial role — doing nothing only empowers the bully. Small acts of resistance can make a big difference.
Authority figures — parents, teachers, managers, HR staff — must learn to recognize and respond appropriately. Unfortunately, many are untrained or even unwilling to intervene, which can worsen the situation. In some cases, authority figures even side with the bully, deepening the victim’s isolation.
The most effective approach is to acknowledge harmful behavior and create environments where it can’t thrive. And for those being targeted, finding a counselor or psychologist trained in bullying dynamics can be a vital first step toward healing.
Final Thoughts
We often talk about progress — about being a more tolerant, inclusive society. But as long as bullying exists in any form, from schoolyards to boardrooms, we still have work to do.
My hope is simple: that the next generation, raised with empathy and awareness, will finally break the cycle. Maybe then, bullying won’t survive at all.
