Print this page 
What is bullying?
Defining bullying
We would recommend
that every school or college has a clear
definition of bullying that is shared with everyone in the
community.
The best definitions are agreed collectively –
involving staff, children and parent and carers. ABA includes
the following principles in its definition of bullying:
- bullying behaviour deliberately causes hurt
(either physically or emotionally)
- bullying behaviour is repetitive (though one
off incidents such as the posting of an image, or the sending
of a text that is then forwarded to a group, can quickly
become repetitive and spiral into bullying behaviour)
- bullying behaviour involves an imbalance of
power (the person on the receiving end feels like they can’t defend
themselves)
Bullying is not:
- teasing and banter between friends without
intention to cause hurt
- falling out between friends after a quarrel
or disagreement
- behaviour that all parties have consented to
and enjoy (though watch this one as coercion can be very
subtle)