The phenomenon of bullying, or bullying, is a problem that has received great attention in recent years due to its negative impacts on the mental and emotional health of those who suffer from it. However, there is a subgroup of individuals who have lived the experience of being victims of bullying and have subsequently adopted aggressive behavior towards others, becoming what is known as "bully-victims". This behavior presents an additional challenge in understanding and preventing bullying, since it not only involves the protection of the original victims, but also intervention with those who have internalized the aggression and externalized it towards others.
Origin of the term "bully-victims"
The term "bully-victims" refers to individuals who have experienced both the role of victim as the aggressor in bullying situations. These individuals are usually identified as having been the target of harassment by their peers, but in turn, they have responded to this aggression by replicating patterns of abusive behavior towards others. This phenomenon raises questions about the complexities of the dynamics of bullying and the long-term repercussions it can have on the mental health of those who experience it.
Characteristics of bully-victims
Bully-victims share characteristics with both traditional victims of bullying and aggressors. In terms of their relationship to victimization, these individuals may experience significant levels of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem as a result of being bullied by their peers. However, unlike conventional victims, bully-victims also exhibit aggressive and domineering behaviors towards others, adopting roles of power and control that replicate the behavioral patterns observed in aggressors.
This duality Role deregulation can be due to various causes, such as the internalization of the aggression suffered, the lack of skills to manage conflicts constructively or the search for social validation through dominant behaviors. In many cases, bully-victims have learned to use aggression as a defense or response strategy in situations of vulnerability, thus replicating the same power mechanisms that they have experienced as victims.
Risk factors and protection
The development of bully-victim behaviors can be influenced by a combination of risk and protective factors that interact in the individual, family and social context of each individual. Some of the risk factors that have been identified include early exposure to situations of violence, lack of emotional support from significant figures, the presence of family conflicts or the absence of social skills to manage interpersonal relationships in a healthy way.
On the other hand, there are protective factors that can mitigate the risk of developing bully-victim behaviors, such as emotional support and open communication in the family environment, the promotion of conflict resolution skills and empathy. , as well as access to psychological and social support resources if necessary. Early identification of these factors and their appropriate approach can help prevent the perpetuation of the cycle of violence in individuals who have experienced bullying situations as victims.
Impact on mental and emotional health
The phenomenon of bully-victims not only has implications for the interpersonal dynamics of school environments, but it can also have a significant impact on the mental and emotional health of those who experience it. These individuals face a double challenge in having to deal with the emotional consequences of victimization, as well as the internal tensions derived from adopting aggressive roles towards others.
Short and long-term consequences
In the short term, bully-victims may experience increased levels of stress, anxiety and feelings of guilt due to the internalization of the aggression and victimization suffered. This combination of factors can manifest itself in behavioral problems, difficulties regulating emotions, and interpersonal conflicts with peers and significant adults in their environment. In the long term, these unresolved emotional difficulties can contribute to the development of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or antisocial behavior.
In addition, bully-victims may experience difficulties in establish healthy interpersonal relationships, trust others, appropriately express their emotions and resolve conflicts constructively. These limitations in social and emotional skills can perpetuate the cycle of aggression and victimization in different contexts of these individuals' lives, contributing to the persistence of bully-victim behavior in both adolescence and adulthood.
Intervention and prevention
To effectively address the phenomenon of bully-victims, it is essential to implement intervention and prevention strategies that consider the complexities of this problem. Both in the school, family and community settings, it is important to create safe and trusting spaces where individuals can express their emotions, receive emotional support and learn healthy strategies to manage conflicts constructively.
Intervention in the school environment
In the school environment, it is crucial to foster a culture of respect, empathy and tolerance where inclusion, diversity and collaboration among students are promoted. Bullying prevention programs must include awareness strategies, training in social skills, conflict resolution and emotional management, as well as monitoring and support mechanisms for those individuals who have been identified as bully-victims.
In addition, it is important to provide tools to teachers and educational staff to detect warning signs of bully-victim behavior, intervene in a timely manner and refer affected individuals to specialized resources if necessary. Collaboration with psychology and psychopedagogy professionals can be key in the design and implementation of effective strategies to prevent the perpetuation of violence in the school environment.
Intervention in the family and community environment
In addition to the school environment, it is essential to involve families and the community in the prevention and addressing of bully-victim behaviors. Promoting open and affectionate communication within the family, establishing clear limits on violence and respect for others, and providing emotional support to children and adolescents are key factors in preventing the replication of patterns of aggression in the domestic environment.
Likewise, it is important to raise awareness in the community as a whole about the risks and consequences of bullying, promote the reporting of bullying situations and encourage intersectoral collaboration between educational institutions, social organizations, health services and authorities. local authorities to comprehensively address this problem.
Conclusions
In summary, bully-victims represent a complex and multifaceted manifestation of the phenomenon of bullying, which involves the simultaneous experience of victimization. and aggression in individuals who have been exposed to bullying situations. This dynamic poses additional challenges in understanding and preventing bullying, as well as intervening with those who have internalized aggression and externalized it towards others.
To effectively address bully-victim behaviors, It is essential to implement intervention and prevention strategies that consider the risk and protection factors at the individual, family and social level of each individual. Promoting a culture of respect, empathy and tolerance, providing emotional support and promoting the development of healthy social and emotional skills are fundamental pillars in the prevention of violence and the promotion of safe and healthy environments for the growth and development of children and adolescents. .