New York has anti-bullying laws, but bullying is still common in New York schools. Bullying is an insidious act that can cause mental and physical damage. What makes a student become a bully? There’s not a simple answer to that question, but bullies tend to have some things in common.
Lack of self-esteem
Bullies often have low self-esteem. They don’t feel good about themselves. Bullying might make them feel superior to the person they’ve chosen as the victim. That’s why bullies pick targets they perceive as inferior or weak. Hurting others boosts their self-esteem.
No empathy
Empathy allows a person to feel and understand someone else’s feelings. Bullies often lack empathy, and don’t care how bullying in school hurts the victim. Without empathy, bullies find it difficult or impossible to see the situation from the victim’s point of view.
Aggressive
Bullies are more aggressive than other students. They often have a high level of anger which they exhibit physically, verbally or both. Bullies use their aggression to harm and intimidate other students.
Lack of social skills
Bullies are often unable to build social bonds with their peers. This can happen for several reasons, including low self-esteem and social anxiety. Bullies might resort to bullying to get attention or social status they can’t get otherwise.
Dominant personality
Bullies often want to control and dominate others. They may enjoy the feeling of power they get from school bullying. Controlling and intimidating others gives them a temporary sense of pleasure and enjoyment. They repeat the bullying behavior because they like how it makes them feel.
Recognizing the school bully
Not all bullies exhibit the same characteristics. It’s also possible to have bullying characteristics without being a bully. And bullying isn’t always the result of psychological traits. However, there are some psychological traits that bullies often share.