Bullies feel Overpowered

Dear Parents,

Bullying is getting a lot of media attention right now.  Anderson Cooper and CNN just did a one hour special on the topic.  They had several victims on the show talking about their experiences, and it was horrible what they went through. The bullies overpowered the  victims.  The victims feels powerless, and dehumanized. 

Before I continue with this discussion I want to address the fact that I am using labels – “bullies and victims” to describe people and their actions.  I don’t believe that anyone is stuck with their behaviors or circumstances, I believe everyone has the power to reinvent themselves.  With that said, I am going to continue to use these terms for purposes of discussion.

Now what most people don’t realize, and what I didn’t feel was fully addressed in the CNN special, is kids who are bully’s in school are feeling powerless somewhere.  Maybe at home, they are in a home environment where they are being overpowered.  They feel powerless and angry.  They can’t take their revenge out at home or wherever it is coming from because they are smaller and powerless, so they take it out on someone else.  They find someone who they can overpower and dominate. They are meeting their need for control and power by taking their revenge on someone else.  This is also how revenge becomes a cycle, a cycle of being hurt, and then hurting someone else.

Tomorrow I will talk about how bullies should be handled.

To Your Family,


Jane Cabrera
The Parent Success Coach 
www.TheParentSuccessCoach.com