What causes a student to start bullying?
There is no one single cause of bullying among children and youth. Rather, there are many factors in a child’s environment (his or her family, peer group, classroom, school, neighborhood, and society) that can contribute to bullying behavior. Students who bully are more likely to witness violence in their home, have little parental supervision, and lack warmth and involvement from their parents (Olweus, 1993). Children who bully also are likely to “hang out” with others who bully and feel that they gain their popularity or “coolness” by teasing other students (Pellegrini et al., 1999). Bullying thrives in schools where faculty and staff do not address bullying, where there is no policy against bullying, and where there is little supervision of students—especially during lunch, bathroom breaks, and recess. Negative models of bullying behavior are also prevalent throughout society—especially in television, movies, and video games.
