Bullying Is Everywhere: Ten Universal Truths About Bullying As A Social Process In Schools & Communities

Abstract

This article outlines a proposal to see schools as the natural portal of entry into community violence and to conceptualize bullying as a universal dysfunctional social process, in which the bully and the victim are symptoms, not causes of that dysfunction. Ten truths that we have found are crosscultural, and deserve consideration if such an approach is to become a practical reality in our struggles against community violence. These are: (1) Children need clear, consistent signals from home and school; (2) biology transcends culture; (3) schools mirror their communities; (4) bullying is a process, not a person; (5) when adults deny problems, children become targets; (6) children are developmentally similar across cultures; (7) all schools have a climate; (8) children need to feel safe to learn; (9) when children feel securely attached and valued, they grow; and (10) natural leaders and altruism are necessary for school and community change.