Defining Bullying

Abstract

This paper reviews the definitions of bullying used by different groups of people, such as non-professionals, researchers and the legal profession. It then considers the variety of ways in which the word bullying may be understood in different languages. The complex ity of the concept of bullying is demonstrated through this, as well as through looking at some of the possible processes involved and at young people's definitions of bullying. The implications for surveys into the incidence of bullying and for anti-bullying strategies are discussed.