Position Statement Regarding Understanding and
Preventing Bullying in Our Society
The American Psychoanalytic Association condemns bullying in our schools, playgrounds, sports fields,
youth organizations, homes, communities, and workplaces. The Association endorses specific measures
to educate the public regarding bullying and develop intervention programs to prevent bullying and
deal with its deleterious effects.
Background
Bullying is one of the most common forms of aggression and victimization: 27% of middle school
students,1,2 16% of high school students,2 and one-quarter of workers3 are bullied. Depression, suicide,
substance abuse, and other serious psychiatric, medical, and public health problems are consequences
of bullying. Bullying occurs across the lifespan and in many social settings. As professionals devoted to
listening to and fully appreciating each individual’s unique story, psychoanalysts are exquisitely aware
of the importance of the positive regard of others in helping each person reach his or her full potential,
and of the innate human need for love and friendship. We are deeply concerned about the emotional
pain caused by and the destructive power of bullying.
Definitions
Bullying is any repeated act or speech that subjects someone to hurt, indignity, humiliation,
intimidation, physical abuse or threat of physical abuse, social or other isolation, shame, or disgrace.
Bullying includes teasing, name-calling, mockery, threats, harassment, social exclusion, rumors, dating
violence, hazing, and cyber-bullying (texting, sexting, sharing photographs or videos, and misuse of
other social media). It is unacceptable in all its forms. Too often our schools, communities, churches,
sports teams, and workplaces tolerate or ignore this destructive group and individual behavior.
Understanding the Bully-Bystander Phenomenon
Bullies will only do what bystanders allow4--it is a group process and a social dynamic that grips a
victim’s entire world. As part of the American Psychoanalytic Association's expertise in these matters,
we view bullying as a triadic (three party), rather than dyadic (two party), process in which there are
interactions between bully, victim and bystander(s). The bully does not act only as an individual. Via
complex and often hidden psychological forces, the bully becomes an “agent” of the bystander
audience and together they create a complex and destructive power dynamic. Thus harm may be
caused through direct physical or psychological means and/or indirectly through encouragement of the
process or avoidance by the bystanders. Given this new triadic characterization of bullying, any
intervention must consider the interlocking social interaction among bully, victim, and the audience of
bystanders observing or being involved directly or indirectly with the process. The bully is therefore
part of this complex group process, not simply an individual driven by his or own psychopathology.4
Policy Recommendations
The American Psychoanalytic Association endorses the following to further the goal of preventing
bullying and its associated morbidity and mortality:
- Promoting public awareness about the nature, impact, and prevention of bullying.
- Reviewing the efficacy of available/currently implemented anti -bullying programs
