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Glossary of Key Definitions

Bullying occurs in many different forms, with varying levels of severity. It may involve:

• Physical Bullying—poking, pushing, hitting, kicking, beating up
• Verbal Bullying—yelling, teasing, name-calling, insulting, threatening to harm
• Indirect Bullying—ignoring, excluding, spreading rumors, telling lies, getting others to hurt someone
• Cyberbullying - tormenting, threatening, harassing, humiliating, embarrassing, or otherwise targeting using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, or mobile phones

How Can I Tell if Someone is Being Bullied?

• If the bully’s aggressive behavior is deliberate.
• If the bully intends to cause emotional distress or physical harm.
• If the bully’s behavior occurs more than once.
• If the bully and the victim both feel that the bully is more powerful than the victim.
• If the bully’s behavior involves hitting, kicking, shoving, or spitting.
• If the bully’s behavior involves taunting, teasing, racial name calling, or verbal harassment.
• If the bully’s behavior is threatening or involves obscene gestures.

Where Bullying Occurs:

• School bus
• Playground
• Athletic field
• Locker room
• Classroom
• Cafeteria
• Hallways
• Residence hall
• On internet and social networking sites

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying, instead of happening face-to-face, happens through the use of technology such as computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.  Cyberbullying peaks around the end of middle school and the beginning of high school.

Examples include:

• Sending hurtful, rude, or mean text messages to others
• Spreading rumors or lies about others by e-mail or on social networks
• Creating websites, videos, or social media profiles that embarrass, humiliate, or make fun of others