Are you or your child exposed to what is known as verbal bullying? Can’t figure out how to handle it? In fact, there are multiple forms of verbal bullying that some may put under the mask of joking. In this article, we will explain the most important forms of this type of bullying? How can it affect your child? And how you can help him get over it, so follow this article with us until the end.

verbal bullying

It is a well-known form of bullying, in which a person uses words in order to bully or offend someone, and it is one of the most influential types, and may even have a deeper and more severe effect than violent physical bullying, and it is one of the types that are widely used on electronic communication sites different.

Reasons for verbal bullying

Sometimes it may be difficult to understand what is going on in a bully’s mind that pushes him to use insults or put others down, but he may be doing this for one of the following reasons:

• His desire to appear stronger and better than those around him.
• His desire to attract attention.
• His desire to emulate another person, whether older than him or his friend.
• His desire to impress his friends, which he sees as the way to do it.
• Because he was also bullied, and he wants to reverse it to feel strong.
• Because he lacks self-confidence and sees that this is the way to feel confident in himself.
• Because he is going through problems at home or school, so he takes bullying as a way to alleviate what he feels.
• Because he feels angry and wants to express his anger, bullying becomes his way of doing it.

There may be other and multiple reasons for this type of bullying, and the bullies may have their reasons for doing the matter, but the matter is still rejected, and there is no reason to justify the behavior of the bully.

Manifestations and forms of verbal bullying

There are many forms of verbal bullying and its manifestations vary. It is not limited to verbal abuse, teasing others, verbal harassment and inappropriate sexual comments, but extends to more than that. Below we explain to you the most important behaviors that may fall under this type of bullying:

1- Release titles

Some people can take advantage of the idea of ​​giving nicknames to bully someone, and it is not limited to children who give a title to another child, but this type can have other forms, as it may occur between family members, friends or spouses.

Some people may do this type of bullying by naming the person being bullied with animal names, or they may be described with adjectives to diminish them.

2- Verbal threats

It is a method used by the bully to force the person to do what he wants. It aims to make the person feel afraid, such as someone threatening to beat you if you do not do something.

3- Sarcasm and belittling others

This type of bullying may appear in the form of an attempt to belittle the person being bullied, and it is a method used by the bully to prove that he is the most superior by making some sarcastic or despising comments to others, such as the bully belittling the work you have done, or trying to appear that he is smarter than you, and other behaviors that may fall under this category of bullying.

4- Destructive criticism

Who among us does not have his own shortcomings, which need to be corrected, whether through advice or targeted criticism, but bullies take advantage of this point to constantly criticize others in a hurtful way that does not benefit them in any way, such as someone telling you that you are a failure and you cannot succeed in anything. Something you do despite your constant attempts, instead of giving you advice to help you succeed.

5- Underestimating the matter

Bullies use this tactic to make others feel insecure, whether by trying to humiliate or put them down, such as telling you that you are worthless and nothing, or making you feel unwanted and unloved.

The effects of verbal bullying

This type is considered one of the strongest types of bullying, and its effect lasts for long periods, and it leaves strong negative effects, because it causes a kind of emotional trauma and scars that may continue to affect the child until adulthood, in addition to its psychological impact, which may cause:

The effect of verbal bullying in schools

In addition to the previous effects, the occurrence of this type of bullying within schools may cause the child to feel a psychological state that affects his studies, as his academic performance declines, his ability to perform his tasks and duties, and he moves away from school activities and unwillingness to participate in them. Retreat them if they are being bullied.

How to deal with verbal bullying

Now, if your child is exposed to this type of bullying or you yourself are exposed to it, then you need to know the correct way to confront it, but you should know that it takes courage, and there are several things that must be done as follows:

• Ignoring the bully and not responding to him, as this may lead him to stop what he is doing, because some bullies do this in order to attract attention only, so in the case of being calm and ignoring, then the bully may stop what he is doing.
• Do not follow the same method as the bully as a way to respond to him, especially since the matter may turn into a state of physical violence.
• Integration with good people and friends may help improve the psychological state, and may help in gaining more positivity.
• Doing many activities, because occupying time with useful work helps to distract thinking about bullying that you or your child is exposed to.

We remind you, dear readers, to always put yourselves and your children first, especially since verbal bullying may stem from those close to you in the form of joking that may be intended sometimes and sometimes not, so it is very important that you take a position in which you express your dissatisfaction with what you are going through so that the matter does not reflect on you. negatively affect your mental health.

And that we as adults may be able to deal with it sometimes, but our children need all the support to be able to face verbal bullying or any other type of bullying, especially since the exposure of children to bullying affects their personality and psychological state greatly.

So be of help to your children and tell them that you will always be with them and that you are their protective shield, always encourage them to tell you what they are going through so that you can protect them and guide them in the right way, and always tell them that bullies are the weakest and that your children are the ones with strength, and that strength is not rudeness or violence but rather the means of the weak And that there are ways to defend themselves against physical attacks, so they should not fear them and confront them. May God protect you and your children from all evil.