‘Want to know how popularity and bullying can go hand in hand. Here is all the information you need to know.
In this post, you will learn about popularity and bullying so that you can call it out and protect yourself from it.
Once you learn all the ins and outs of this kind of bullying, you will be able to recognize it, call it out, predict your bullies’ behavior, and defend yourself.
This post is all about popularity and bullying, so that you can recognize how they connect and protect yourself from popular bullies.
Popularity and bullying
Most popular people like to bully others. It’s just what they do. Here’s why they do it and what you can do to protect yourself.
Bullying for Increased Social Status
Bullies not only use bullying to control you. They also use it as a vehicle to achieve a higher social status.
And sadly, it works like a charm. The reason it works so well is that, when someone bullies you, their social status rises, while yours falls. They benefit at your expense.
For many, having their peers admire them is the end-all be-all. It adds more value to their sense of self-worth than money and material wealth.
One can achieve an elevated social status through wealth and material possessions. However, they can attain it through bullying if the bully lacks financial means.
On the other hand, if the bully does have material wealth, the social status he gets from bullying is just icing on the cake.
It’s not something he feels he must do to raise his status. It’s something he wants to do because he thinks it’s fun.
Popularity and Bullying:
Why DO popular people bully?
1. Because they have social capital.
It’s because they have the social capital to protect them from wrongdoing. Bullies with social capital are the most destructive
These are the bullies who enjoy the most social connections and friends in high places. A vast majority of people either think well of them or fear them.
This includes classmates at school and coworkers at work. They can also be those in the neighborhood or community.
Bullies can be the “cool kids” at school, the “Good Old Boys” clique at work, or the dominant group in town. These bullies can also include local politicians, businessmen, or members of prominent families in a particular area.
Their popularity is their weapon.
It doesn’t matter how much money you have, it’s how much power you have.
Although money does help, these folks don’t necessarily have to be rich to have these connections. I’ve known many who were quite poor and had a lot of power. Why? Because of the relationships they maintained with influential people.
What gives them the power they have is their connections with the right people. This is why bullies in these select groups are particularly dangerous and can cause you the most harm.
These types of bullies proactively build a network of social relationships. Moreover, they do this to reinforce their power and get protection from any accountability for wrongdoing.
In many cases, they already have well-established ties that date back several years. I can’t stress this enough. So, I’ll repeat it.
Those who are popular do not have to be rich. In fact, most of them aren’t. I’ve met many people who were poor but popular, and wealthy individuals who weren’t.
Money does not equal popularity.
Popularity and Bullying:
Bullies with social connections.
Bullies build connections that benefit them with protection and keep them above reproach. Moreover, these connections give them carte blanche to ride roughshod over anyone freely and with impunity.
They may perpetuate a culture of bullying.
These are the types who will watch their enemies closely. They know they have good name recognition. Therefore, they take advantage of it.
Whenever a bully has a significant amount of social capital, others are less likely to risk pissing them off. Why? Because they may become the next target.
And chances are that if they target you, their groupies and flying monkeys will only follow their lead.
Bullies with power have many wannabes who surround them. These groupies will bully you simply because it’s what the bigger bullies expect of them.
This is why the most popular and well-connected bullies get away with deplorable behavior. Heck! They can do anything they want to anyone.
Therefore, if you become a target of one of them, they will use their influence and connections to destroy every aspect of your life. And they’ll never stop coming after you.
Popular bullies are very influential, persuasive, and, most of all, convincing.
It’s how they were able to achieve their popularity in the first place.
Their names alone carry significant weight behind them. They possess trust, mutual understanding, and shared values and behaviors that promote unity and strengthen their group.
When one of these bullies says something, others, even those outside their circle, listen. And they take their word as fact!
Popularity and Bullying:
Sacred Cows.
I call these people “sacred cows”. Why? Because they are the most popular. They have the most power and influence in a school, corporation, or community. They have so much of it that others don’t dare question or speak against them, even if they’re wrong.
In fact, they may get rewarded for their behavior.
Therefore, with sacred cows, people may not necessarily like them. They may even hate them but, you can be sure that they fear them.
So, even haters are careful not to speak against them publicly or within earshot of the wrong people.
If you’re a target of bullies who have social capital, know that they can make your life hell. They can tarnish your name with smear campaigns.
And others will believe it simply because of who the rumors and lies come from. They can also cause the loss of your job and block you from finding new employment. As a result, these bullies can rob you of your ability to make a living.
Popularity can be a powerful weapon!
These bullies can destroy your ability to make new friends because others will be too afraid to associate with you. In other words, you become radioactive!
When bullies are popular and well-liked, no one wants to do anything that might upset them. Therefore, they play it safe and avoid you like a bad disease.
If you own a business, bullies with popularity can discourage customers from patronizing it. They can also have their worker bees set fire to it and burn it down.
And don’t put it past them to trump up false charges against you. They may set you up to be arrested.
For example, if they know a few crooked law enforcement officers, they may have them pull you over on the way home from work.
And these bad cops may plant drugs in your car to have an excuse to throw you in the slammer. If that doesn’t work, they may send henchmen to visit you or meet you on the street somewhere.
Popularity and Bullying:
These bullies are the biggest crooks because they’re popular.
Your self-esteem can also take a harder hit because of these bullies’ popularity. And you’re likely to be paralyzed with fear, especially if you’re a kid in school.
Here are a few things you can do to insulate yourself from popular bullies.
Remember that even the most popular bullies have enemies. And some of those enemies may be just as powerful. Also, bear in mind that you aren’t the only person these creeps have bullied.
There were others before you, and there will be others after you. Bullies with popularity love to throw their weight around. And if they can’t do it with you, they’ll find someone else to buffalo.
Build your own social capital.
Find out who else these brutes have tormented. Then, befriend and align yourself with them..
If you can find those who were once a part of the bullies’ circle but were ousted, that’s even better! These former friends likely have private and sensitive information about each of the bullies.
Moreover, they probably know some damaging info about their sycophants as well. These individuals will likely be seeking some form of retribution.
Therefore, they’ll be only too happy to give you all the juicy details!
Establish tight connections with your fellow victims. Cozy up to anyone the bullies have double-crossed. Band together with them. Why? Because nothing unites people like the shared anger and hatred toward an enemy.
Popularity and Bullying:
Establish connections with your bullies’ enemies.
Pal around with them. Eat out with them. Be sure you’re seen with as many of these victims as possible. This will provide you with a little protection!
The more targets and outcasts you connect and bond with, the better! And always have their backs and make sure they have yours!
Also, make friends, take jobs, and seize opportunities that are outside the bullies’ element. If necessary and all else fails, consider moving to a new area.
Tell no one of your plans or where you’re moving to. Sometimes, it’s just best to vanish!
Do these things, and you’ll be much safer!
This post is all about popularity and bullying, so that you know what to expect from popular bullies and ways to protect yourself from them.
Related posts you’ll enjoy:
2. Reasons Why People Bully – 7 Most Common Motives
3. Bullying Culture: When Bullying is the Status Quo
4. Why People Bully: 11 Benefits Bullies Reap at Your Expense
🙏🌹
Aum Shanti
Thank you, Shanti!
From my experience, it was the jocks who were the popular ones and those who weren’t good at sports, the targets. In many high schools who push sports over learning, it is these people who are unassailable in the eyes of school leaders and are given free reign to throw their brute privilege around.
You said that perfectly, Michael!