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Bullying Psychology: Causes, Signs and How to Understand Bullying Behaviour

Rasika Karkare Rasika Karkare (Counseling Psychologist) | May 22, 2026
Clinically Reviewed Evidence Based
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    Bullying is a behaviour largely associated with kids and school settings, but it can happen to people of any age and in any setting, such as work, playgrounds and even within families and houses. In today's world, online bullying has been on the rise as well. Bullying often manifests in various forms, from physical aggression to verbal abuse, and often leaves deep emotional scars on the victims.

    Understanding the psychology behind bullying is crucial—not only to recognise its different forms but also to learn how to address and prevent it. In this article, we'll explore the reasons why people bully others, whether laughter can be a form of bullying, why autistic individuals may be more vulnerable to bullying, and how teachers and parents can perceive and support a student who exhibits bullying behaviour.

    Why Do Bullies Bully Others?

    Bullying is a complex issue and often a result of multiple factors. Some of them are:

    It Is A Learned Behavior

    Many times, bullying is a result of learning from the external environment. For instance, if a child grows up in a house where they see their siblings or other adults using aggressive ways to get their needs met, they might end up believing that these aggressive behaviours are normal, and they might try to replicate them in other places such as school or playgrounds.

    Need For Attention And Popularity

    Some individuals resort to bullying as a misguided attempt to seek attention and validation from peers or authority figures. In school settings, bullying is often considered 'cool' and is associated with increased power and popularity. If a child feels ignored at school or home, they may resort to bullying to get noticed or negative attention from their teachers and parents.

    Insecurity

    Although bullies might be associated with being strong and powerful, bullying could be a result of deep-seated insecurities within a person. When someone feels low or unhappy with themselves, they might bully others to make them feel unhappy as well. Bullying allows them to divert attention from their perceived shortcomings and provides a sense of power and superiority over others, serving as a confidence boost.

    Lack of Empathy

    Research suggests that bullies may lack empathy—the ability to accurately understand and feel what others are feeling. Bullies may struggle to understand or connect with the feelings and experiences of others. This deficiency in empathy allows them to engage in harmful actions without fully understanding the emotional impact on their victims.

    Underlying Issues

    This may sound odd, but sometimes people may become bullies because they have been bullied before. In a way, bullies may believe that targeting others helps them protect themselves from bullying. Bullying can also be a result of underlying issues with anger management, emotional regulation and unresolved childhood trauma.

    Anonymity

    In today's digital world, it is very easy to drop mean comments under someone's posts. Online bullies may take advantage of this anonymity factor on the internet to bully others, as there is less chance of them facing any consequences for their actions.

    Is Laughing At Someone Bullying?

    Bullying can manifest in different forms. Sometimes, even laughter that is generally considered healthy and joyful can turn into a subtle or overt form of bullying, depending on the context.

    In simple terms, bullying is repeated aggressive behaviour targeted at a person to put them down or harm them in certain ways. Bullying can be both physical and verbal. Laughter, on the other hand, is usually linked with happiness and joy. Yet, laughter can occasionally play a role in bullying, depending on different factors, such as:

    Intention and Impact

    Inherently, laughter isn't harmful or hurtful, but the intention behind the laugh also matters. If someone is laughing at a joke or good news, it isn't usually considered hurtful. However, when laughter is targeted towards a specific person, to ridicule or put them, it can indicate a subtle form of bullying and can hurt the victim's feelings significantly. The impact on the person being laughed at is crucial in determining whether it qualifies as bullying.

    Mockery

    Mocking someone can be considered a form of bullying. Many times, mocking is also followed by laughter, which can leave the other person feeling even worse than they were feeling before. When people laugh at someone, to demean them, it can be considered another subtle form of bullying. Such mocking laughter can have a huge impact on the mental health of the victim, contributing to feelings of shame and humiliation.

    Form of Superiority

    Sometimes laughter can be a tool used by bullies to put others down or a way to show their dominance over the victim. Thus, laughter can be a subtle way to exert control or show disrespect towards the targeted person.

    Laughing At Someone Being Bullied

    Some people do not directly participate in bullying, but they might continue to watch or laugh while someone is being bullied. Although this isn't a direct form of bullying, it provides validation and encouragement to the bullies. In a way, laughing at victims of bullying is a subtle way to demean or make fun of them.

    Reaction From The Other Person

    Whether laughing at someone is considered bullying largely depends on the other person's response. If the other person is at ease with being the subject of a joke and willingly laughs along with others, it may not be classified as bullying. In fact, casual teasing is normal among friends. However, when people purposefully present mean comments or insults as jokes with the intent to hurt the other person, it can be seen as a subtle form of bullying. Some forms of bullying involving laughter are:

    • Disguising mean comments as a joke
    • Name-calling or shaming
    • Blaming the other person for being 'too sensitive' after insulting them.
    • Laughing at someone in public, especially when their shortcomings or mistakes are highlighted, causes them to feel embarrassed.

    In summary, laughter isn't inherently bad. In fact, teasing or making light jokes is part of healthy friendships. However, when laughter is used to put someone down, demean or insult them, or assert one's superiority, it can easily take the form of bullying. Such bullying or mocking laughter can lead to feelings of shame and worthlessness among the victims and may even contribute to the onset of depression or anxiety in them.

    Why Do Autistic People Get Bullied?

    Bullying can have an even more severe impact on people struggling with autism, contributing to problems such as lack of progress at school or work, reduced self-esteem, etc. Thus, it is essential to understand the reasons why people with autism might be easy targets for bullying. Deep diving into these reasons can also help us create inclusive and safe environments for people with autism.

    Lack of Awareness Among Peers

    One of the major reasons why autistic people are bullied is simply a lack of understanding. Many people do not know what autism is and how it may influence a person's behaviour. They may even have biases or misconceptions about the condition. This lack of awareness may make people with autism seem 'odd' or different as compared to other peers, leading them to be easy targets for bullying or teasing. Thus, spreading awareness about autism can be an effective step towards reducing bullying.

    Difficulties With Social Cues

    People with autism often experience difficulties interpreting social cues, like body language or tone of voice, making it hard for them to participate in social interactions. This may lead to misunderstandings where people with autism may be perceived as 'lonely' or aloof by others around them, making them more susceptible to bullying and teasing.

    Difficulties Maintaining Friendships

    As discussed above, people with autism often struggle with social cues and social interactions. Thus, they can have a lot of difficulties making friends, even if they want to participate or initiate conversations. A lack of friends often leads to isolation and loneliness, which can make them vulnerable to bullying as bullies are likely to target those with low social support.

    Self-Esteem Issues

    Lack of social connections and isolation combined with other difficulties can severely affect the self-esteem of people with autism. Constantly feeling "different" or struggling in social settings can make them feel inferior or insecure. Bullies may take advantage of these insecurities, knowing that the victim might not be able to stand up for themselves.

    Taking Things At Face Value

    Due to the difficulty in understanding social cues and body language, people with autism are likely to take things at face value without understanding their deeper meanings. Which can make them take jokes or teasing at face value. They may not realize when someone is being sarcastic or joking. This may make it difficult for them to realize that they are being bullied, making them more prone to bullying.

    How To Overcome Bullying?

    Being bullied can cause severe psychological harm and leave a person mentally scarred for a long time. Thus, it is important to take action and overcome bullying. A few ways to overcome bullying are:

    1. Consider standing up for yourself and confronting the bully. Let them know that their behaviour is inappropriate. Once you show that you are confident and unaffected by the bully's behaviour, they might feel powerless.
    2. Do not suffer from bullying in silence. Let the higher authorities in school or the workplace know what you have been facing so that they can take appropriate action.
    3. Seek support from friends and colleagues at work. Bullies are often afraid to face people in groups. If you have a strong support system of friends, the person engaging in bullying may reconsider their actions.
    4. Avoid displaying emotions when facing bullying. Reacting with anger or confrontation may only fuel the bully's behavior, while staying neutral, and ignoring the behaviour, can increase the likelihood of the bully giving up.

    Standing Up To Bullying As An Autistic Person

    While it may seem difficult, people with autism can take several steps to counter bullying, such as:

    1. Educate your peers about your condition with the help of your parents and teachers. Increasing awareness about autism can build empathy and understanding, making it less likely for peers to bully.
    2. Seek support from your parents and teachers regarding instances of bullying.
    3. Schools and workplaces often have policies in place to prevent any kind of bullying. Thus, seek support from appropriate higher authorities if bullying is persistent.
    4. Remember that bullying is not your fault. So, be kind and compassionate towards yourself and avoid self-blame.
    5. If possible, ignoring bullies and not reacting to their provocations can sometimes discourage their behavior.
    6. Try to stay in safe places or supervised areas and surround yourself with trusted friends or peers to reduce the likelihood of being exposed to bullies.

    How To Perceive A Student Who Exhibits Bullying Behaviour?

    It can be challenging for teachers when a child exhibits signs of bullying. However, it is important to understand that bullying is a complex behaviour with various underlying causes, such as a lack of social skills, emotional difficulties or even personal insecurities. Thus, teachers must be incredibly careful, patient and empathetic while addressing bullying behaviour in children.

    Look For The Signs

    The first step in addressing bullying behaviour in children is to recognize its signs in children. Generally, children who bully others may exhibit signs such as aggression, getting into verbal or physical fights with others, forming groups to bully others, etc. Recognizing these signs in students is key to early intervention, which can be crucial for both children who bully and also those who may be the victims of bullying.

    Understand The Root Cause

    As mentioned earlier, bullying is a complex behaviour with many underlying causes. Bullying may often stem from underlying issues such as low self-esteem, academic struggles or even violence or other issues at home. Thus, it is important to talk to the child in a safe and non-judgmental environment to understand their behaviour. Once you understand the root cause, you will have a clearer perception of their struggles.

    Set Boundaries And Consequences

    While it is important to understand and be empathetic towards children who bully, it is also equally important to set clear boundaries and expectations around which behaviour is appropriate and what is not. Establish rules that communicate the unacceptability of bullying behaviour, and set clear consequences that would follow if these boundaries were crossed. However, be careful that these consequences encourage children to make constructive changes instead of being punitive. Consistently setting boundaries is likely to cause behavioural changes over time.

    Encourage Empathy And Compassion

    An effective way of reducing bullying behaviours among children is to teach them empathy. Classroom activities such as role-playing and storytelling through creative means can be effective in making children understand how their behaviour impacts others.

    Create Opportunities for Them to Connect with Others

    Children who bully others may often struggle to form healthy connections, which may lead them to resort to bullying. Thus, it is important to get them involved with others so that they can have positive social connections. By involving them in group activities, you can help them to build confidence and enhance their social skills, leading to reduced need for bullying.

    Praise Them For Any Positive Changes

    Acknowledging even small yet positive changes can motivate children to continue improving their behaviours. Acknowledging progress, whether it's showing respect, helping others, or controlling impulses, serves as a validation for them and makes them more committed towards change, also helping their confidence in the process.

    Involve The Parents If Necessary

    Sometimes, activities or steps taken at school may not be enough, especially if the bullying is triggered by factors at home. In such cases, it may be beneficial to involve the student's parents. However, ensure that you handle the conversation with sensitivity without endangering the child's sense of safety, explaining to parents how collaboration is important and helpful for the child.

    Model Positive Behaviours

    Children are quite open to learning from their environment. Thus, observation and modelling become effective ways to influence a child's behaviour. Demonstrating kindness and effective communication skills in the classroom can help children learn positive ways to connect without resorting to bullying.

    Talk To A Professional

    If bullying persists despite interventions and involvement from parents, consider consulting a trained child psychologist. A trained professional can help uncover the root cause of bullying while designing effective interventions to deal with it. In fact, early intervention can help prevent bullying behaviours before they escalate.

    Conclusion

    Bullying is complex and is influenced by a variety of factors. From personal insecurities to learned behaviors and past traumas, understanding the reasons behind bullying is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies. While laughter and teasing may seem harmless on the surface, they can become subtle forms of bullying when used to demean or assert superiority. Certain groups, such as individuals with autism, may be more vulnerable to bullying due to social challenges and lack of awareness among peers. Perceiving and helping a student who exhibits bullying behaviour requires a careful balance of empathy, boundaries and collaboration. By identifying the signs of bullying, understanding root causes, setting effective boundaries and modelling positive behaviours, both parents and teachers can help students change their behaviours and connect with others in healthier ways. The key is to be patient and seek appropriate professional help when needed. If you are facing the after-effects of bullying, consider consulting a professional for the same.

    References

    Rasika Karkare

    I am a certified therapist and have an experience of working with various psychological vulnerabilities for more than 4.5 years. I have been working with adults in the age range 18-40 years who present a wide range of emotional/mental health concerns. In my practice, I strictly adhere to therapies based on scientific evidence and value ethical guidelines provided by APA (American Psychological Association).

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