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How much do you really know about bullying? About being a bystander? Do you think you can spot bullying in your school? Find out!

What Is Bullying?

Bullying is repeated instances of abuse over time, in relationships involving a power imbalance (i.e., someone with more social status lording it over another person repeatedly to make that person miserable.) For more information: https://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/

What is bullying?

A bystander is someone who witnesses bullying an does nothing, even when they know that the bully’s behavior is wrong. For more information: http://web.mit.edu/bystanders/assessing/index.html

What is a bystander?

Because of the power imbalance between the group of seniors and Lindsay as a freshman, as well as the fact that it is repeated instances, this is an example of cyber-bullying.

Lindsay is a freshman girl that posts a selfie on Facebook. A group of seniors comment on the photo calling her a slut and a whore. She removes the photo but in the coming weeks the seniors continue to write cruel comments. Is this bullying?

As there is no power imbalance between Alex and Paige, and it is a one time fight, this can be classified as just drama between friends.

Alex and Paige are best friends. One day, Paige breaks Alex's phone while listening to music. They are later seen having a big fight in the school cafeteria. Alex calls Paige a bitch and throws her sandwich in her face. Is this bullying on Alex's behalf?

Even though the other students don’t share Suzanne’s feelings, that doesn’t deny that Suzanne is still experiencing verbal abuse within a relationship with a power imbalance, repeatedly over time. This is bullying.

A teacher repeatedly verbally abuses his students in the classroom. Most of the students are unaffected by this behavior but Suzanne feels extremely hurt and is uncomfortable with the teacher’s comments. Is this bullying on the teacher’s behalf?

Although Danny does not actively participate in the bullying of Willy, he still witnesses the behavior and does nothing.

Willy missed a shot in a big lacrosse game. Since then, Willy’s teammates have made constant jokes about Willy. Willy’s teammate Danny knows Willy hates these jokes and doesn’t join in, but also doesn’t stand up for Willy. Is Danny a bystander?

Although Kristen does not stand up Jenny’s bully in the moment, she still supports Kristen privately and actively helps her to find a solution.

Kristen sees Jenny being harassed by kids every day at school. She’s afraid to intervene in the moment, but goes up to after Jenny and convinces her to talk to the principal, and acts as a witness to support her. Is Kristen a bystander?

Brian is in fact a bully. After witnessing the attack of someone with less power, he joins in on the abuse of Missy.

Brian’s friend Reid gets turned down for Prom by Missy and consequently starts harassing Missy over social media. Missy reports this behavior and Reid gets suspended. Furious, Brian continues the harassment in Reid’s place. Is Brian a bystander?

“In the vast majority of cases, [bullying] takes place in front of an audience of other kids– 88% of the time.” (http://www.slate.com/articles/life/bulle/2013/02/bullying\_can\_we\_teach\_kids)

How often does bullying take place in front of other people?

“Kids who are bystanders intervene only 20% of the time.” (http://www.slate.com/articles/life/bulle/2013/02/bullying\_can\_we\_teach\_kids)

In these public instances of bullying, how often will bystanders intervene?

Most people don't understand bullying or what it means to be a bystander as well as they think! However, studies show that the more informed students are, the less they engage in bully/bystander behavior and the more they stand up for their classmates. What will you do to be more of an upstander?  
For more information:  
http://web.mit.edu/bystanders/strategies/index.html  
https://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/

You seem pretty well informed about what bullying and bystanders are.The more informed people are, the less they are to engage in bullying and bystander behavior! What will you do to be more of an upstander?  
For more information:  
https://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/  
http://web.mit.edu/bystanders/strategies/index.html

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What Is Bullying?

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