Characteristics of bullying behavior

Coloroso (2003) describes bullying behaviors as contempt and power plays.

In 1998, TIUE defined bullying as behaviors falling on a violence continuum.

The NEA (2001) as well as others, describes bullying as a systematic process of inflicting physical or psychological pain.

Simmons (2002) uses real stories from personal interviews with adolescent girls from all socio-economic classes in the United States. Likewise, Garbarino (1999) references case studies from his research. All authors attest that this behavior is covert in nature, destructive, and withheld from adults.

There are three characteristics that will always be present in bullying behavior; an imbalance of power, intent to do harm, and threat of further aggression. When not stopped, the behavior will escalate to include a fourth characteristic, terror (Coloroso, 2003).

Harassment by teens is especially covert and easily takes place in the presence of adults; even adults who are trained to recognize harassment may miss most of the incidents that take place (Banks, 2000; Minnesota State Attorney General's Office, 2001).