Psychological profile of the school bully (bullying): 9 traits
Bullying or bullying It is one of the most talked about phenomena in recent times, as there seems to have been an increase in cases of violence in the school context. In reality, bullying has always existed, but currently it has a greater media impact and its name may be more attractive since it comes from the English language.
This phenomenon has devastating consequences and, in some cases, fatal outcomes for the person who is the victim. In this article we will delve into the traits and characteristics of school bullies.
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The types of bullying
The "bullies" or class bullies can carry out different behaviors to inflict fear and pain in the person who is the victim of bullying, and new technologies have allowed bullying not only to take place in classrooms or educational centers, but many victims are even harassed through mobile phones or computers. That is why we talk about different types of bullying. They are the following:
- physical bullying: Includes physical contact such as kicking, hitting, pushing or tripping.
- verbal bullying: It is a type of bullying characterized because the stalker expresses cruel words, threats, insults, etc.
- relational bullying: It is one whose purpose is that the victim does not join the group. For example, not inviting him to parties.
- cyberbullying: It happens through new technologies, such as mobile devices or the computer.
- carnal bullying: It is characterized by sexist or obscene comments, by touching the victim in intimate places or pressuring her to do something she does not want.
Consequences of bullying for the victim
Whatever the type of bullying, the victim usually suffers serious problems in his life. Children may experience great panic and avoid going to the educational center so as not to run into their bully.
Negative consequences for the victim of bullying They are basically these:
- Pathological stress.
- Depression.
- Guilty feeling.
- Low self-esteem and negative self-concept.
- Low academic performance and school failure.
- Panic attacks.
- Insomnia.
- extreme anxiety.
- Bad reputation and low popularity.
- Social isolation and loneliness.
- Problems in their social relationships.
- suicidal ideation.
Psychological profile of the school bully
The "bullies" can present very varied physical characteristics. They are tall, short, athletic build, thin… However, regarding his psychological profile, it is possible that many stalkers present a series of common characteristics that we explain below.
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1. Need to dominate and control others
Bullies often have an autocratic personality and engage in undemocratic behavior. They have dichotomous thinking, so for them the only opinion that counts is theirs.
They like to dominate others and feel superior, because they generally have low self-esteem. That is why they look for "easy" and weak victims.
2. Explosive and impulsive temperament
These types of individuals are not usually emotionally intelligent and they do not have great emotional control. They do not have self-knowledge skills and therefore are not capable of managing or regulating them. Their character is impulsive and they tend to explode at the minimum, giving free rein to their anger.
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3. They enjoy and are stimulated by violence
There are individuals who feel stimulated by violence and enjoy using it to gain respect. Bullies seek to feel respected and feared., and the use of violence is one of the best ways to make victims fear their presence. In addition, they enjoy even more when the victims are humiliated in public, since it is an expression of their power.
4. Lack of empathy
One of the most prominent characteristics that these individuals present is that they lack empathy. They are incapable of putting themselves in the shoes of many of the people around them and that is why they are so hostile and cold. It is impossible for an individual to hurt another if he is capable of visualizing his suffering and putting himself in his shoes.
5. Little capacity for self-criticism and low tolerance for frustration
Being little empathic and having low emotional intelligence, the "bullies" They are characterized by having trouble recognizing their mistakes.: in them there is no self-criticism. They are people who tend to blame others for their failures, and even use other individuals to project their low tolerance for frustration. That is, use them as a scapegoat.
6. intolerant of differences
Tolerance towards the differences of others is one of the best virtues that a human being can possess, and it is one of the keys to living in harmony with other people. Respect not only for differences in aspects, opinions and ideas is what makes us great. Abusers are not tolerant individuals, but they think that their truth is the only one that exists. They are usually full of hate and prejudice, which is why they tend to display sexist and racist behavior.
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7. rigid thinking
Intolerance turns these individuals into possessors of rigid thinking. They are not people who like to talk (in the sense of exchanging ideas and different points of view) or who have a positive attitude towards consensus. What does not fit with your ideas or your beliefs is wrong. They possess the absolute truth and because they think that theirs is the only existing truth.
8. defy the rules
Bullies at school are usually boys with an antisocial personality, who are troublesome and who constantly break the rules. And it is that antisocial personality is associated with any type of abuse. These individuals are characterized by carrying out irresponsible behaviors and hate being controlled. However, they use hate and anger to control others.
9. handlers
They are manipulative people, and their behavior always has a goal: their own interests. They use blackmail to cause fear in their victims and they are liars. They always blame others before themselves.