Six Points in Defining Bullying

1. Intent to harm - perpetrator finds pleasure in taunting and continues even when the victim's distress is obvious.

2. Intensity and duration - teasing continues over a long period of time and the degree of tauting is damaging to the victim.

3. Power of the abuser - the abuser maintains power because of age, strength, size and/or gender.

4. Vulnerability - the victim is more sensitive to teasing, cannot adequately defend self, and/or has physical or psychological qualities that make the victim more prone to vulnerability.

5. Lack of support - victim feels isolated and exposed, and often is afraid to report the abuse for fear of retaliation.

6. Consequences - the damage to self-concept is long lasting, and the impact on the victim leads to behavior marked by either withdrawl or aggression.

Fried, S. & Fried, P. (1996) Bullies and Victims: Helping Your Child Through The Schoolyard Battlefield. New York: M. Evans and Company, Inc.