What is Bullying?

by | Sep 18, 2023

At OpenView Education we work with thousands of young people every year providing education on bullying. An essential first step is establishing a shared definition of what bullying is.

This helps young people to know the difference between a conflict (an argument or disagreement), and bullying. We created this short video to support educators and teachers to introduce the topic of bullying, and exploring how we know if something is bullying:

 

Download the Supporting ‘What Is Bullying?’ Poster for this Video here.

 

When we think of the word bully, we might picture in our mind, this kind of situation.

There is one person who is the bully, and one person who is the victim. However in reality, this isn’t always how bullying looks. Bullying can happen in lots of different ways, sometimes bullying isn’t so obvious and can even be quite subtle. 

The first thing to remember is that bullying isn’t the same as an argument or a disagreement. It’s normal to have an argument sometimes. Or for one of our friends to say something that might make us feel upset. But this isn’t the same as bullying.  If we have an argument or a disagreement, we could call this a conflict. Conflicts are normal, but they are not the same as bullying.  So how do we know if something is actually bullying?

Bullying is.. 

Repetitive. It usually happens on more than one occasion, it’s done again and again. 

 

Bullying is…

Intentional. This means the person doing the bullying is doing it on purpose. 

And we know that something is bullying if there is a power imbalance. A power imbalance is when one person, or a group of people has more power than another person.

 

For example, if there was a group of five people, making an unkind joke about one other person, this would cause a power imbalance.  Because there is a group of people, being unkind towards one other person. The group has more power than the one person by themselves. This is a power imbalance. 

 

How can bullying happen?

Bullying can happen in lots of different ways.

  • Bullying can be physical, where someone hurts someone else through their actions.
  • Bullying can be verbal, through the unkind things someone says or through spreading rumours about someone.
  • Bullying can happen online, in an online game, group chat or on social media.
  • Bullying can be psychological and social, for example bullying could involve a group of people leaving someone out on purpose or ignoring them.

 

So, now you know what bullying looks like, it’s over to you.

If you saw that someone was being bullied, what actions could you take to help?

At OpenView Education, we provide interactive Anti-Bullying Workshops to support schools in providing education and training on bullying. Get in touch here to book a workshop for your school today. 

Ways to Stay Calm for SATS Poster

7 Ways to Stay Calm for SATs – Free Printable Poster for Year 6 Pupils

SATs season can bring a wave of pressure for both Year 6 pupils and the staff supporting them. With expectations high and the countdown to test week ticking, it’s easy for focus to shift entirely onto revision, past papers, and academic targets. But in the rush to...
Knife Crime Awareness Week 2025

Knife Crime Awareness Week 2025: Age-Appropriate PSHE Ideas for Primary Schools

What is Knife Crime Awareness Week? Knife Crime Awareness Week 2025 takes place from 19th – 25th May, this is an important annual event in the school year to talk with children about personal safety and making positive choices. While knife crime is often viewed...
World Book Day Poster

World Book Day Poster – The Power of Reading

World Book Day is celebrated every year on the first Thursday in March, it is an important day that’s dedicated to promoting reading for pleasure among children and young people. To support schools in celebrating World Book Day, OpenView Education is pleased to...
Knife Crime - What is Joint Enterprise

Knife Crime Awareness Video – What is Joint Enterprise?

  In the past decade, police recorded offenses involving knives or sharp instruments have surged by an alarming 81%. Young people and teenagers are now twice as likely to be victims of knife crime compared to ten years ago. So, what can we do to prevent knife...
The four Cs of Online Safety

The Four ‘C’s of Online Safety – Poster

  Download the Four Cs of Online Safety Poster Here   Ensuring online safety in schools is crucial in today’s digital age. An effective way to address online safety is through the framework of the “4 Cs” — Content, Contact, Conduct, and Commerce....

TikTok Parent Guide

Download our guide on what parents need to know about TikTok.

TikTok Parent Guide

Thank you! Your TikTok Parent Guide is in your email inbox now.