Today October 5, 2017 is World Day of Bullying Prevention.



Are you a bully? Have you been bullied? Do you know a bully?

According to Wikipedia, ‘’bullying is the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively dominate others…. Rationalizations of such behavior sometimes include differences of social class, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, appearance, behavior, body language, personality, reputation, lineage, strength, size, or ability…When bullying is done by a group, it is called mobbing.’’

In the context of the above, it can be appreciated that bullying is indeed a universal phenomenon with variable manifestations.

Bullies can be found in all spheres of human endeavour – homes, educational institutions, health institutions and even in national political life.

The recent events in the Nigerian political environment prompts the questions – Is any group been bullied? Who is the bully? Can the bully be properly identified and situated? A harasser of the weak is a bully.  Envy and resentment are often motives for bullying.

What can be done as primary and secondary prevention of bullying? 

Individuals and groups can work together to prevent bully in the community. Efforts at this must begin with the children - educating them on mutual respect and kindness, the need for open communications and creating awareness on identifying early signs of potential bullies.

Bullying can have a huge impact on personal and community development. There are psychological and physical consequences which can be life threatening. 

If you are currently involved in any form of activity that conforms with the act of bullying, make a commitment today to desist. If you know anyone being bullied in any form, lend a helping hand to the individual. You may save a life by doing so.

 End bullying today!

Further reading:

1.       Juvonen J, Graham S. Bullying in Schools: The Power of Bullies and the Plight of Victims. Annual Review of Psychology. Annual Reviews. (2014). 65: 159–85.
2.       Meyer, Doug. The Gentle Neoliberalism of Modern Anti-bullying Texts: Surveillance, Intervention, and Bystanders in Contemporary Bullying Discourse. Sexuality Research and Social Policy.
Neurologist, Professor, Researcher, Scientist, Mentor.

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