IntroductionThe facts about bullyingSafe Schools
FrameworkWhole school strategiesResources for the classroomSupporting students Home > Introduction > Facts about bullying > Why does bullying occur?
Did you know?
Definitions
Types of bullying
Signs of bullying
Why does bullying occur?
Factsheet 3: Types of bullying (PDF, 89KB)
Factsheet 4: Signs of bullying (PDF, 83KB)
Translated fact sheets
Why does bullying occur?

A person can engage in bullying behaviour because they:

don't like the person being bullied find bullying fun like to feel tough and strong, in control think it will make them popular.
(Source: Australian Covert Bullying Study Executive Summary (PDF, 214KB) p.xxii, May 2009, Edith Cowan University).

Bullying behaviour can arise from distrust, fear, misunderstanding, lack of knowledge or jealousy - all factors that schools can address in positive and proactive ways.

Bullying can also happen because the student gets a reaction they like. This is where teaching students ways to effectively respond to bullying behaviour is helpful.

The following profiles of students who are more likely to be bullied and those who more like to bully others are based on patterns found in Australian research; the profiles do not mean all students with these characteristics will be involved in bullying.

Students who are more likely to be bullied are also more likely to:

feel disconnected from school and not like school lack quality friendships at school display high levels of emotionality that indicate vulnerability and low levels of resilience be less well accepted by peers, avoid conflict and be socially withdrawn have low self-esteem be relatively non-assertive be different in some way.
Students who are more likely to bully others are more likely to:

feel disconnected