Bully Breakdown

Bully: Someone who feels the need to have control over someone else, and attains that control through physical force or threats, verbal teasing, or exclusion.

There are 4 main types of bullies:

-Physical: those who use physical force to control others. This may include kicking, hitting, or shoving.

-Verbal: Use words to harm, such as name-calling, racist comments, insulting, or harsh teasing.

-Relational: Focus on the exclusion of one person from a peer group

-Reactive: Those who both bully and get bullied. Usually they are victims first, and react in the way that they were treated.

Boys are more likely to engage in physical bullying, while girls usually resort to relational bullying. Boys engage in bullying more frequently than girls do. However, there is a trend among girls that is becoming more and more prevalent especially in middle schools, and that is cliques.

What is a Clique?

A clique is an exclusive group of people with a common purpose or interest. Qualifications for a membership of a clique may be social or essential to the nature of the clique. Cliques may exist in a workplace, a community, business, school, or really any area of social interaction. The majority of cliques are seen in school between children and teenagers. Some examples, among many, are the jocks, the theatre kids, the cheerleaders, the nerds, etc. Teens often find their parents to be a little out of touch with the times, thus gravitating them towards a clique, where they can fill emotional voids and gather advice and support. They give adolescents a feeling of belonging and acceptance, and a sense of connection that may help one cope through a tough time. It also provides a time to share common interests and beliefs along with confidence.

Along with all of these benefits of a clique, there are also many disadvantages. For example, if one is not accepted into the clique they wish to be a part of, it can lead them to feel rejected, sad, and alone. At times, cliques can cause such a bond between people within the group that everyone will follow one person. When this happens, some may do things they wouldn’t want to do. Tensions may also arise between cliques that don’t have the same interests. Taunting, teasing, excluding, and even acts of violence are known to have happened because of the differences found between groups. Girls in cliques usually tease others with verbal abuse, while boys tend to be physical. Because of these negative actions associated with being in a clique, they have become to be seen as more of a negative thing and more associated with bullying.

Problems We've Seen Due to Cliques

There are many instances when members of cliques take things too far, causing others to be extremely emotionally or physically hurt. For example, even though this movie took place in a high school, Mean Girls is a perfect demonstration of how an exclusive clique like the “Plastics” can cause so much damage due to their verbal abuse, exclusion of others, and, of course, the “Burn Book.”  Another good example (although another high school example) demonstrating how cliques become problematic occurred in 1999 at Columbine High School, where members of a clique, the “Trench Coat Mafia,” were after jocks who wore white polos and baseball hats. In response, many of the jocks removed their clothing that identified with this in hopes of not getting hurt. It resulted in 15 high school students being killed, along with 2 of the Trench Coat Mafia members who started the whole thing. 24 were injured. This is an extreme case of discrimination and an example of how being part of a clique and having differences against another group can bring out the worst in some people. Below is a link to a video showing an interview of a boy who attended the school when this occurred and witnessed the whole thing happen.

Another example, now involving girls, that shows how cliques can result in nasty behavior involved 13 year old Karyssa Albrecht. She explained to a Seattle magazine how she would just walk in the hallways at school minding her own business, and yet be harassed by other girls. Karyssa shared that they would call her mean and inappropriate names. “The only way to explain these girls is just like, mean,” explains Karyssa. Since this 8^th grader was not part of a certain group, she was called names and excluded from activities. Girls during this age (12-14) are trying to find themselves and figure out who they are. Their way of trying to fit in and look “cool” is to have their small group friends and treat others who aren’t up to their level unfairly. Karyssa states how girls don't settle their disputes one-on-one. They build alliances, which complicates and prolongs the disagreement. "With girls," Karyssa says, "they have to get their friends involved, and they have to get their friends involved." It is obvious how one such as Karyssa would feel like a victim in her middle school. The most popular girls, experts say, are those who most closely fit the stereotype of femininity -- just as the coolest guys fit the traditional masculine mold. The setup creates problems for both aggressor and victim.

Why are girls so mean these days? It’s a question so many of us have been asking for over a decade now. This spring at least three new books sound an alarm over mean-spirited cliques and their tools of oppression, from shunning and name-calling to rumor-mongering. The official term is "relational aggression.” The media plays another role in adolescent’s lives. They watch TV and notice how to be mean, and then take it upon themselves to do it to others at school. The media also portrays a certain way to look, and if kids at school don’t look this way, then they may be made fun of or excluded from a clique. There may also be some internal factors that are unknown to everyone else. For example, one might be under a lot of pressure, causing them to act out in school and finding that teasing others is the only way to let their anger out.

This following video goes to show how many people are offended by cliques, and how some people find them to be something to be celebrated. All in all, cliques can be either a very good and positive thing, or a very bad and damaging thing.

The Rise of the Mean Girl

While for most people, the image of a typical bully may be a big, mean-looking boy, girls are also taking a part in this unfortunate trend. “The words are ‘relational aggression’ and they describe a certain type of sneaky bullying.” Says Kelly Burgess, of preteenagerstoday.com. Burgess goes on to say that these girl bullies can start as early as second grade, and are often the, for lack of a better word, “popular” girl in class. These bullies are often very feminine, which can even lead teachers and parents to disbelief that these girls could actually be bullies. Usually they travel in groups of two or more, and most of their bullying has to do with who’s “in” and who’s “out.”

But why do girls feel the need to bully? According to Mean Girl Cliques: What and Educator Must Know, “Middle school for girls is one of the most trying and intense periods of their entire lives. With hormones raging, concepts of self and the world drastically changing, and the need to belong and fit in entering the forefront of their lives this time is incredibly intense for young girls.” Also, the way that girls form and view friendships plays an important role in the epidemic of bullying. In early elementary school, girl’s friendships are based on basic personality traits, such as how nice someone is or how well they share. One late elementary school and middle school arrive, girls realize how much work a friendship can take. Also, unfortunately, the downside of friendships, which can consist of losing friends, dealing with rumors, and people finding other friends.

How to Avoid the Pressure of a Clique

In order to stay away from the pressures of cliques, there are a few steps one can take. First, is to make sure to become friends with people for who they are, not what they are. Don’t try to get into a certain group to look “cool.” Be with those who bring out the best in you and there should be no problems. Another good idea is to try and be friends with everyone. It’s smart to try and have a wide variety of friends, because this way you show that you are no threat to anyone and just like to get along with everybody. Also, avoid doing things you don’t want to do. People may try to tell you to do something or join them in an activity you have no interest in. Stay strong and say no when you want to.

Fast Facts: Bullies by the Books

It is estimated that 160,000 children miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students. Source: National Education Association.


American schools harbor approximately 2.1 million bullies and 2.7 million of their victims. Dan Olweus, National School Safety Center.


Nearly one-third of middle schoolers have been the object of sexual jokes, comments or gestures. Another 15 percent have been bullied or harassed because of their religion or race. National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center


The effects of bullying can be long-lasting. By age 23, children who were bullied in middle school were more depressed and had lower self-esteem than their peers who had not been bullied.  Dan Olweus, Univeristy of Bergen

Cyberbullying-An Epidemic

Another type of bullying is cyberbullying. According to stopcyberbullying.org, cyberbullying is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. According to CBS News, at least 42% of students across America have been victims of cyberbullying. This number will only continue to rise since technology is becoming more and more a part of education and students’ lives. Check out this CBS News video for some more information. 

A Victim Fights Back

Casey Heynes was constantly bullied. The 16 year old Australian native has been described as "a gentle giant." He was ridiculed endlessly for his size, and would simply just walk away. This was the story for about three years, until one day, he drew a line, and his bully crossed it. Casey, as he calls it, "snapped" and picked up his bully, who was actually significantly smaller than him, and literally slammed him to the ground. A fellow student got the whole thing on video tape, and the vid went viral almost instantly, with over one million views. Casey has been hailed as a hero to victims around the world, and has gained tons of support. There has even been a video game made in this boys honor. 

The Story of Phoebe Prince

One of the most infamous stories of cyber bullying is that of Pheobe Prince, a 15-year-old girl who had moved from Ireland to a small town in Massachusetts. She began dating a popular jock, and a lot of girls became jealous. Phoebe got ridiculed on facebook and myspace, also at school. One day, as Phoebe was walking home from school, the girls who were bullying her drove past and threw an energy drink at her head as they shouted more mean things to her. When Phoebe got inside, she hung herself in her closet, for her 12-year-old sister to walk in and find. Phoebe was supposed to be going back to Ireland in a few weeks to visit her father. She did make it back to Ireland eventually, however it was in a casket. Kevin Cullen reports, “Phoebe’s family decided to bury her in County Clare. They wanted an ocean between her and the people who hounded her to the grave.” Six teens have been hit with multiple charges in this case. 

Observations Found After Surveying College Students

5 out of the 7 who responded to the survey reported never being bullied or being a bully

·      7 out of the 8 students who took this survey report not being in a clique in middle school

·      When asking why one wasn’t in a clique, 3 out of the 6 that responded say that had a wide variety of friends. One stated they  didn’t have friends, and two saying there were not cliques in their schools

·      2 out of the 8 students report always noticing others being mean to those who were different in middle school, while 2 report never noticing this, and 4 reporting sometimes

·      2 out of 8 say that being part of a clique was very important in middle school, while 5 out of 8 say it was sort of important and 1 saying it was not important at all

·      Peoples responses to why they think people are bullies include:

-       They want to make themselves feel better by picking on vulnerable people

-       Kids are going through a time of figuring out who they are

-       People want to fit in and putting others down makes them feel “cool”

-       They are immature

·      2 out of 8 think that bullying was the cool thing to do in middle school while 6 believe it was not

What To Do

Think your friend/student/child is being a victim of bullying or a clique? Here are a few signs to look for:

The child is:
-Sensitive
-Socially withdrawn
-Regularly complaining about a headache or stomach pain, to avoid going to school
-Passive
-Anxious
-Not sleeping well or having many "bad dreams"
-Avoids social gathering or activities

Here are some tips to help that child no longer be a victim:
-Tell them to talk to someone they trust, a teacher, counselor, parent, or even a good friends' parent.
-Make a journal of every event that has happened, without exaggerating or making up things. Bring this to the proper authority figure (principal, teacher, bus driver)
-Saying "NO" is more powerful than some think. Have confidence when saying this.
-Do not give the bully want they want, which is often power over their victim. Sometimes, the most simple thing a victim can do, is ignore the bully and ask for help.

Works Cited

Works Cited

"  Bullying in Middle Schools: Prevention and Intervention - Middle School Journal  ."   National Middle School Association - the association for middle level education  . N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2011. <http://www.nmsa.org/publications/middleschooljournal/articles/january2006/article2/tabid/693/default.aspx>.  This was an awesome place to start research. It have clear, concise definitions, and led us to more research questions.

" From the archive, 21 April 1999: 'Trench coat mafia' blamed for massacre | From the Guardian | The Guardian ."  Latest news, comment and reviews from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk . N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2011. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2010/jul/23/archive-trench-coat-mafia-1999>.  This article is about the Trench Coat Mafia Massacre that occured on April 20th, 1999 at a high school in Denver, Colorado. During this terrible time, two students who were part of this clique threatened jocks who were wearing polos and baseball hats. The day resulted in a shooting, with 15 deaths and 24 injuries. This article explains the local horror it created and how the town coped with this tragic event.

"Casey Heynes – A gentle giant who had enough." Casey Heynes – A gentle giant who had enough. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2011. <http://www.caseyheynes.com/>.  This is a true life account of a boy, Casey Heynes, who had been bullied for years. One day, he had finally had enough and actually body slammed his attacker, and it was all caught on video. The video has gone viral now, and Casey is being called a "hero" to bullying victims around the world.

Chicao, Illinois, DePaul Univeristy. "    The Adolescent Society Revisited:  Cultures, Crowds, Climates, and Status Structures in Seven Secondary Schools.." Journal of Youth and Adolescence 36.6 (2006): 1023-1035. Print.

"Cliques." Massachusetts General Hospital Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2011. <http://www.massgeneral.org/children/adolescenthealth/articles/aa_cliques.aspx>.  This article is about the benefits and problems that go along with cliques. It explains what a clique is, the different types of cliques people may see, and why people choose to join them. This article also shares a clique's relation to a gang, and a real life incident of when a problem involving a clique resulted in death.This artcle also goes into full detail of how kids who are not accepted into cliques may feel, and what it does to their self-esteem.

"Cliques." How Cliques Make Kids Feel Left Out. N.p., 3 Feb. 2010. Web. 1 Apr. 2011. <http:/http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/friend/clique.html/>.  Cliques are also a huge social issue in middle school. This gives some stories of what kids went through and what exactly goes through these bullies' minds. 

"Cliques - TheSite.org." TheSite.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2011. <http://www.thesite.org/sexandrelationships/familyandfriends/friendships/cliques>.  This article is about what exactly a clique is, what types of cliques there are and what they do, and where one may find a clique. It also explains the pro's and con's of being part of a clique, which is very insightful. There is a section on how to avoid the pressure of cliques at the end, which is a very helpful source for anyone in need of help in this area.

Dubuss, Mary Kate. "Learning Is Not Just The Three R's." The Metro Daily News 5 (2005): 1-56. Print.

GOODNOW, CECELIA, and SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER. "Nasty clique behavior among girls draws new attention - seattlepi.com." Seattle news, sports, events, entertainment | seattlepi.com - seattlepi.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2011. <http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Nasty-clique-behavior-among-girls-draws-new-1087613.php#page-2>.  This article is about a group of middle school girls who speak out about the "mean girls" that bully them. The girls explain how the mean girls use inappropriate and mean words and will harrass them in the hallways. Experts share their thoughts on why girls this age act the way they do, and what can be done to stop this. 

Linn, Margaret, Linda Jeffery, and DeMond Miller. "Middle School Bullying as a Context for the Development of Passive Observers to the Victimization of Others.." Journal of Emotional Abuse 2.2/3 (2001): 14, 143-156. Ebsco. Web. 21 Mar. 2011.

Meltz, Barbara. "Middle School Cliques-A Common Challenge." The Boston Globe 6 (2001): n. pag. Ebsco. Web. 22 Mar. 2011.

Schoen, Sharon, and Alexis  Schoen. "Bullying and Harassment in the United States.." Clearing House 83.2 (2010): 68-72. Print.

"The Facts About Bullying."  : : Parenting Bookmark - Where Parents and Experts Share Advice. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2011. <http://www.parentingbookmark.com/pages/articleMB04.htm>.  This site gave lots of facts about bullying, which was really helpful to our research.

"The untouchable Mean Girls - The Boston Globe." Boston.com - Boston, MA news, breaking news, sports, video. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2011. <http://www.boston.com/community/moms/articles/2010/01/24/the_untouchable_mean_girls/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed5>.  This is a very sad story of the consequences of cyberbullying, and will hopefully help open kids eyes of the seriousness that goes along with this topic.

WIlson, Jan . "Left Out." Newsbank 4 (2010): 1-40. Ebsco. Web. 22 Mar. 2011.

"test2.html." STOP cyberbullying: Cyberbullying - what it is, how it works and how to understand and deal with cyberbullies. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2011. <http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/what_is_cyberbullying_exactly.html>.  This cite talks about a more recent type of bullying, cyber bullying. This is becoming quite the epidemic, and is even driving kids to unfathomable ends, taking their own lives. 

 bcronin. "Cliques in Middle School; School Cliques Harmful to Girls." Find Health, Education, Science & Technology Articles, Reviews, How-To and Tech Tips At Bright Hub - Apply To Be A Writer Today!. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2011. <http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/66164.aspx>.  This really gave a look into the quiet bullies-girls. Middle school girls are more into vocal bullying and relationship bullying, which is not the typical physical type of bully most people would think of.