Bullying, psychiatric pathology and suicidal behavior

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Criminology

Background:

• Bullying is a widespread behavior with severe social, medical, and financial consequences.
• Defined as intentional, repeated aggression with a power imbalance, it manifests physically, verbally, or gesturally.
• Observed across all ages, genders, ethnicities, and professional settings, from schools to corporate environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the nature and impact of bullying.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of current interventions for bullying.
• To determine the most appropriate strategies for addressing cruelty and bullying.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on bullying prevalence and impact.
• Analysis of the psychological and social outcomes for victims and perpetrators.
• Examination of the etiological basis of cruel behavior.

Main Results:

• Bullying leads to increased risks of depression, PTSD, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal behavior.
• Cruel actions, including bullying, are not typically motivated by intrinsic "mental disorders".
• Interventions often occur long after the harm has been inflicted.

Conclusions:

• Bullying's impact is profound and long-lasting.
• Psychiatric and psychological interventions may not be the primary solution for all forms of cruelty.
• Moral rules and legal actions are crucial for dissuading bullying and cruelty.