Why do people bully?

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This video contains cartoon characters with voiceovers from children reading statements about why people might start behaving like a bully.

They explain that there is no one single reason.

The video ends with the statement ‘Don’t be someone different from who you are.'

Video: 1 mins 30 secs

(from the set out by the UK Council for Internet Safety)

‘I can recognise online bullying can be different to bullying in the physical world and can describe some of those differences’
‘I can recognise when someone is upset, hurt or angry online
‘I can give examples of how bullying behaviour could appear online and how someone can get support’

‘I can describe ways people can be bullied through a range of media (e.g. image, video, text, chat)’

Peer pressure: when your peers (people who are similar to you – the same age, in the same class etc) try andpersuade you to behave in a particular way - usually the same as them – and sometimes make you feel bad if youdon’t
Rumours: information or a story that is passed around a group of people but might not be true

Before the video:

Ask pupils to write down their current understanding of the key phrases and words from the glossary - either independently or in pairs with discussion

After the video:

Check new understanding of the key vocabulary and correct any misconceptions
Re-watch the video and write down each statement made by the young people
Try and summarise each statement in just a few words
In pairs, ask pupils to write two speech bubbles, one starting with “I started bullying because…” and the other “When I was bullied, I felt…”
Look at the comments about the video and ask pupils to write some of their own – thinking about the commenting rules

Are bullies always really horrible people? Can a nice person turn into a bully?
Should we try and forgive bullies? It might help them feel less like a bully. Bullies need friends too
Once a bully, always a bully Can a bully ever stop? Should we try and help them or just report them?

Use the summarised statements from the previous section to make an illustrated list of reasons why people might become bullies
Draw a diagram or a mind map (using pencil and paper or digital publishing or mindmapping tools) that connects up some of the reasons people might become bullies – explore patterns and cycles
Create an acrostic poem or article using the letters BULLY or CYBERBULLY as the first letters of each line
Use screenshots from the video and add your own speech bubble and statement about why people become bullies
Role play: various scenarios where bullies explain their reasons for bullying to someone who responds positively and kindly. Use scenario cards to stop the role play becoming personal – people must stick to the roles on the cards – take them from thestatements in the video or from the speech bubble activity
Role play: a scenario where one participant tries to persuade the other to join in with bullying and they resist, giving reasons why it is a bad idea.

Write a short play, story or cartoon strip about someone struggling with the idea of being a bully and trying to get help from friends, peers and adults
Create a poster or leaflet aimed to help people understand why some people turn to bullying behaviours
Make a word search or crossword puzzle using key words from this topic for your classmates to try in school.