What is Bullying? Understanding the True Definition

Many people misunderstand what bullying really means. If someone disagrees with you or gets upset, does that make them a bully? Not usually—sometimes people simply have disagreements or conflict.

Understanding what is bullying requires knowing two critical criteria that separate bullying from other negative behaviors.

The Two Essential Components of Bullying

For behavior to be classified as bullying, it must meet both of these requirements:

1. Intentional Behavior

Bullying involves deliberate actions meant to cause harm. If someone does something that bothers you but they're unaware of the impact, it's not bullying. The person must knowingly intend to hurt, intimidate, or control another person.

2. Repetitive Pattern

A single negative encounter doesn't constitute bullying. For example, if you meet someone for the first time and they make an unkind comment about your appearance, that's rude behavior—but it's not bullying. True bullying involves repeated actions over time.

Without both intentionality AND repetition, behavior cannot be accurately labeled as bullying.

What Does Bullying Look Like?

Bullying is when someone deliberately tries to hurt others with words or actions. It's important to remember that bullying describes a behavior, not a person—this distinction helps us address the actions without permanently labeling individuals.

Types of Bullying Behavior

Psychological Bullying (Most Common)

• Hurting someone's feelings repeatedly
• Publicly humiliating others
• Spreading rumors or lies
• Name-calling and verbal attacks
• Social exclusion or isolation
• Cyberbullying through text, social media, or online platforms

Physical Bullying

• Hitting, pushing, or physically intimidating others
• Damaging someone's belongings
• Using physical force to control or intimidate

The Power Dynamic in Bullying

People who engage in bullying behavior attempt to take power away from their targets. They use this perceived power imbalance to harm others emotionally, socially, or physically. Recognizing this power dynamic is essential for effective intervention.

How to Address Bullying in Your School or Community

For Educators and Parents:

• Clearly define bullying for younger students using age-appropriate language that emphasizes the intentional and repetitive nature of the behavior
• Open dialogue about what it means to engage in bullying behavior and how to respond when witnessing or experiencing it
• Teach empathy and conflict resolution skills to help students understand different perspectives
• Create safe reporting systems where students feel comfortable sharing their concerns
• Model respectful behavior in all interactions with students and colleagues

For Students:

• Understand the difference between bullying and one-time conflicts
• Speak up when you witness bullying behavior
• Support peers who may be experiencing bullying
• Report concerning patterns to trusted adults

The Satori Foundation: Empowering Students to Stand Against Bullying

Understanding what is bullying is just the first step—true change happens when students develop the inner strength, confidence, and character to create bully-free environments.

The Satori Foundation addresses bullying prevention at its core by building confident, compassionate leaders who refuse to be bystanders. Through character-focused martial arts training and life skills education, the Foundation helps students develop:

• Mental and emotional resilience to handle conflicts without resorting to bullying behavior
• Courage and confidence to stand up for themselves and others
• Respect and empathy that prevents bullying before it starts
• Leadership skills to create positive peer cultures in schools
• Self-discipline to control emotions and choose appropriate responses

Many students who have been targets of bullying struggle with confidence and self-worth. The Satori Foundation provides a supportive environment where young people rebuild their confidence, learn self-defense skills, and discover their own inner strength—transforming from victims into empowered individuals.

Equally important, students who might be at risk of engaging in bullying behavior learn healthier ways to channel their energy, gain respect from peers through positive achievement, and understand the impact of their actions on others.

Take Action This Week

Make this week count by having meaningful conversations about bullying and building stronger character:

• Schedule dedicated time to discuss what is bullying with students or children
• Share real-world scenarios and ask students to identify whether situations meet the bullying criteria
• Develop classroom or family agreements about respectful behavior
• Connect with the Satori Foundation to learn how martial arts and character education can transform your school's culture and give students the tools to prevent and address bullying effectively

Understanding what is bullying—and what it isn't—empowers everyone to create safer, more supportive environments. But knowledge alone isn't enough. With the right support systems like the Satori Foundation, we can equip students with the character, confidence, and courage to ensure bullying has no place in their schools or communities.