Imagine this scenario: it’s a regular workday and you decide to step out of the office for lunch. As you pass by your coworkers in the cafeteria, you overhear them gossiping about a colleague. It may be tempting to dismiss this as harmless workplace chatter, but in reality, it’s a form of adult bullying. Mental health professionals point out that adult bullying can be just as harmful as childhood bullying.
Adult bullying is when someone intimidates another person physically, emotionally, or verbally. This can occur in person or online, in various settings such as friendships, work environments, or romantic relationships. Unfortunately, adult bullying has become normalized to the point where many adults fail to recognize it. A recent survey found that 43% of adults believe bullying is more accepted today.
To curb the rise of adult bullying, it’s important to understand and identify the behavior of bullies. Adult bullies often use subtle tactics to shame and antagonize their victims, such as passive-aggressive comments, the silent treatment, or backhanded jokes. These behaviors can be damaging and distressing to the recipients.
There are various signs of adult bullying, including purposefully excluding someone, making threats or intimidating remarks, using the silent treatment, disrespecting personal boundaries, and making backhanded compliments or jokes. Verbal harassment, physical intimidation, cyberbullying, and workplace bullying are common forms of adult bullying.
It’s crucial to recognize that bullying can occur in any relationship, including friendships. Bantering or exchanging insults with friends can sometimes turn into friendship bullying. It’s essential to understand that there are underlying reasons why someone engages in bullying behavior, such as childhood trauma or insecurity.
Both bullies and their victims experience negative mental health effects, including increased risks of self-harm, anxiety, depression, and lowered self-esteem. Victims of bullying may also face physical changes such as hair loss and changes in appetite. Dealing with adult bullying can be complex, but there are steps that victims can take to address the situation.
Setting firm boundaries, keeping a distance from the bully, and not taking the behavior personally are essential strategies for dealing with adult bullying. It’s important for bystanders to also take action and speak up against bullying when they witness it. By understanding and addressing adult bullying, we can create a safer and healthier environment for everyone.
