POLOKWANE – While physical bullying causes harm to a child’s body, other forms of bullying including verbal, social, cyber, racial, religious, sexual and disability bullying all cause psychological harm, according to industrial psychologist, Sabetha Nkoana.
“Such offensive, degrading and rejecting behaviours undermine and destabilise victimised children’s sense of themselves, of their place in the school and their place in the world,” she said.
She described the various forms of bullying:
· Physical bullying: It includes hitting, kicking, shoving, spitting, beating up, stealing or damaging property (schoolbooks etc.)
· Verbal bullying: Includes name-calling, mocking, hurtful teasing, insults, humiliating or threatening someone, racist comments or sexual harassment.
· Social bullying: Includes rolling your eyes or turning away from someone, excluding others from the group, getting others, to ignore or exclude, gossiping or spreading rumours, setting others up to look foolish and damaging reputations and friendships.
· Cyber-bullying: Use of email, text messages, cell phones and internet sites to threaten, harass, embarrass, socially exclude or damaging reputations and friendships.
· Racial bullying: Includes treating people badly because of their racial or ethnic background.
· Religious bullying: Includes treating people badly because of their religious background or beliefs.
· Sexual bullying: Includes excluding someone, treating them badly, or making them feel uncomfortable because of their sexual orientation.
· Disability bullying: Includes treating someone badly or excluding them because of a disability.
Sabetha added that parents can help their children who are being bullied by paying attention to their child, listen to what they have to say and act when they share their concerns. “Teach your child to be assertive, not aggressive. Build on your child’s strength and teach them to be more empathetic and supportive,” she said.
