Anti-bullying: why are some people bullies?

It is everyone's responsibility to take action to stop bullying. 

Schools and settings have rules and policies to make sure everyone knows that bullying behaviour is unacceptable. 

If bullying is happening, then everyone needs to be supported and helped to stop the bullying. 

Crucial: Research shows that calling people bullies or victims does not help. It is better to say that bullying behaviour is unacceptable.

Why do people bully?

Most children and young people do not bully other people. 

When bullying behaviour happens, it might reflect something like them being unhappy or having problems in their life. But many people have problems and most do not bully other people. 

Sometimes bullying is minimised or excused by saying "I'm just having fun" or "It's just banter". But behaviour that causes stress or upset to others is bullying and needs to change. 

Take action: Childline have lots of information on bullying, including how to deal with bullying, where you can access support, and ways to support your mental health. 

There is no reason to bully

In most cases of bullying there is no reason. The bullying behaviour is random and impulsive and done without much thought about the other person. 

But some things may make individuals more vulnerable for example:

• Some kinds of disabilities 
• People having arguments 
• Levels of confidence 

But none of these are reasons for bullying to happen. If bullying is happening you can tell anyone at your school or setting and they will support everyone to make sure the bullying stops. 

Crucial: When people target another person because of a characteristic like gender, sexual identity and orientation, race or cultural identity, this is not bullying. It is discrimination.