Does low self-confidence cause kids to become victims?
On the rare occasion that psychology textbooks mention teasing, they usually say that it is the result of low self-confidence or self-esteem. This, though, is not accurate. It is true that kids with poor opinions of themselves are more likely to become victims of relentless teasing than kids who are confident. That is because they are more likely to get upset when others call attention to their faults. But even the brightest, most confident of kids will become the victims of ongoing teasing if they make the simple mistake of trying stop the teasing. It is much more correct to say that teasing causes low self-esteem rather than the other way around. There is nothing that makes a person feel lousy about himself like being the brunt of constant ridicule by peers.
