Bullying can distract bullies, victims, and witnesses from learning. Bullies who are plotting their next attack or victims who are consumed with anxiety and fear about their next encounter with a bully will have difficulty focusing on the lesson at hand. Witnesses may:
- Be afraid of associating with the victim for fear of lowing their social status among their peers, or fear retribution from the bully and becoming victims themselves;
- Fear reporting bullying incidents because they do not want to be considered a “snitch,” “tattler,” or “informer”;
- Experience guilt or helplessness for not standing up to the bully on behalf of their classmate;
- Be drawn into bullying behavior by peer pressure;
- Feel unsafe, a loss of control, or unable to take action.
Source: SAMHSA, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services