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With a government review underway, we have to ask why children bully other kids

The federal government has launched a "" to look at what works to prevent bullying in schools.

Led by mental health experts, the review will underpin a new national standard to respond to bullying. This follows the last year.

It also comes as the Queensland government anti-bullying plan in the state's schools.

As schools, parents and governments look at what more can be done to prevent bullying, we have to ask why children bully other kids.

If we understand the motives, we can help these children change their behavior—and achieve their goals or have their needs met in other ways.

What lies behind bullying?

Research tells us children broadly bully for social reasons. For example, a 2022 study showed children can bully to gain —to be seen as powerful, tough or cool. Or they can bully to maintain status as part of an in-group. Perhaps another child is seen as a "threat" to that status.

Children can also bully for perceived insults. Or for —making a joke at another student's expense.

Research shows motivations can also differ . For example, face-to-face bullying seems to involve more children who bully for social dominance, while those who cyberbully do it more for entertainment and "fun."

In a , Marilyn Campbell and colleagues asked different groups about their perceptions of why young people engaged in cyber-bullying. Parents said children did it out of revenge for being bullied themselves, teachers said students did it for fun, and students thought others cyber-bullied because of peer pressure.

This highlights how complex understanding children's motives can be.

Children may not bully for long

We should about thinking of all students who bully as long-term "bullies."

Most children who bully try the behavior and stop when it does not get them what they want, just as many children who are victimized .

Though of course, even being bullied for a short time can still be for the student on the receiving end.

This could suggest there is a developmental phase in bullying as between children in Year 6 through to Year 10.

However, there are those students who persistently bully others and these are the students whose behavior remains a problem despite interventions and prevention approaches.

Who is more likely to bully?

There are certain personality types who are more likely to persistently bully others. These include:

• students with . This means they think very highly of themselves and actively seek attention but
• students with , who are likely to become aggressive when their egos are threatened
• students who are .

But research is mixed on the question of self-esteem. Some researchers say , yet others have found they have .

There are many reasons why a child might develop the personality traits that would lead them to bully.

Â鶹ÒùÔºical can play a role. There is an association between a child being at home and then bullying their peers.

Parenting can also be a factor. For example, being overvalued but not well disciplined by parents can and a greater likelihood a child will bully.

What can we do?

Children who persistently bully may require targeted and nuanced approaches. emphasize restoring positive relationships, rather than punishments or sanctions.

One approach is individual motivational interviewing. Here a school counselor shows young people they can achieve their goals by other means. perpetrators to see there are more benefits in not bullying than in bullying. For example, "I want to be popular. But if I bully, I also make other kids scared of me and not want to hang around me."

More broadly, schools can also on social and emotional learning.

These emotional intelligence and emotional literacy, enabling students to recognize and manage their emotions, understand the perspectives of others and have positive relationships with peers.

Schools which respect the diversity of students, are also better placed to address bullying. If all students have opportunities to participate in learning, it will to their school community. This not only decreases rates of bullying but supports students who have been victimized.