Bullying1 Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among teens that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated or has the potential to be repeated over time. Both teens who are bullied and teens who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.2 In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include an imbalance of power and repetition. Teens who bully use their power to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.3 There are three types of bullying. Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. Verbal bullying can include teasing, name-calling, and inappropriate comments. It also includes taunting or threatening to cause harm. Social bullying involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Some examples of social bullying include leaving someone out on purpose, telling others not to be friends with someone, spreading rumors about someone, and embarrassing someone in public. Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions. Victims who are physically bullied may be hit, kicked, or punched. They may also be tripped or pushed or have their things taken or broken. All three types of bullying are serious and can have lasting effects on the person being bullied.4 The roles teens play in bullying are not limited to those who do the bullying and those who are bullied. Some researchers talk about the “circle of bullying” to define both those directly involved in bullying and those who passively assist the behavior or defend it. Teens who bully and teens who are bullied are considered directly involved in the bullying behavior.5 Teens who bully engage in bullying behavior towards their peers. There are many risk factors that may contribute to the child’s involvement in the behavior. Often, these students require support to change their behaviors and address any other challenges that may be influencing their behaviors.6 Teens who are bullied are the targets of bullying behavior. Some factors put teens at more risk of being bullied, but not all teens with these characteristics are bullied. Sometimes, these teens need help learning how to respond to bullying.7 Even if a teen is not directly involved in bullying, that teen may be contributing to the behavior. Witnessing the behavior may also affect the teen, so it is important for teens to learn what they should do when they see bullying happen. The roles teens play when they witness bullying include:Teens Who Assist: These teens may not start the bullying or lead in the bullying behavior, but they serve as assistants to the teens who are bullying. These teens may encourage the bullying behavior and occasionally join in.Teens Who Reinforce: These teens are not directly involved in the bullying behavior but they give the bully an audience. They may laugh or provide support for the teens who are engaging in bullying. This may encourage the bullying to continue.Outsiders: These teens remain separate from the bullying situation. They neither reinforce the bullying behavior nor defend the teen being bullied. Some may watch what is going on but not provide feedback about the situation to show they are on anyone’s side. Even so, providing an audience may encourage the bullying behavior.Teens Who Defend: These teens actively comfort the teen being bullied and may come to the teen’s defense when bullying occurs.8 Most teens play more than one role in bullying over time. In some cases, they may be directly involved in bullying (as the one bullying others or the one being bullied), and in other cases they may witness bullying and play an assisting or defending role. Every situation is different. Some teens are bullied and bully others. It is important to note the multiple roles teens play, because those who both are bullied and bully others may be at more risk for negative outcomes such as depression. It also highlights the need to engage all teens in prevention efforts, not just those who are known to be directly involved
How does the author BEST support his claim that all teens should be involved in efforts to prevent bullying?
A.
by stating that teens who bully are at a higher risk for future problems
B.
by showing that bullying harms everyone equally
C.
by stating that everyone plays a role in bullying at some time
D.
by explaining that teens should avoid bullying situations