Is bullying natural? Some people think so, and some do not. Here are all the details you need to know.
Many people say that bullying is only natural selection. Additionally, they may refer to it as Darwinism. They may even say that bullying is all about survival of the fittest.
Therefore, in this post, you will learn to look further into to the age-old question, “Is bullying natural?”. Also, you will learn all about bullying, natural selection, Darwinism, and survival of the fittest so that you can make your own judgments.
Once you learn all about these details, you will be able to draw more informed conclusions.
Is bullying natural? This post may or may not give you the answer you’re looking for. However, it will prompt you to conduct some research and draw your own conclusions.
Is Bullying Natural?
Anytime I hear people refer to bullying as either of the three mentioned in this article’s title, I find it cringeworthy at best! And the words that immediately flash through my mind are “cop-out,” “trivialization,” and “excuses.”
However, the more research I do, the more I’m convinced that it is a dark part of human nature. However, it doesn’t mean it’s natural, per se. Moreover, it damn sure isn’t right, and people shouldn’t do it.
Many bullies use the natural selection, Darwinism, and survival of the fittest science as excuses to continue their behavior.
And that is what pisses me off!
When bullies describe their behavior as one of these three things, they are essentially saying that their behavior is entirely normal. Therefore, they don’t have to stop the abuse.
They’re also saying that victims are weak and undesirable. And that they should be eliminated from the human race. Moreover, they believe that bullying is required for the survival of the human race.
Bullying is not normal.
Bullying is anything but normal. It is brutal, malicious, hurtful, and cowardly.
Victims of bullying are not weak. And they are not undesirable. They may think differently from most. They are often exceptional people with brilliant minds.
Many celebrities, CEOs, inventors, writers, scientists, doctors, and professors were bullied in school. Moreover, some of them have been bullied in the workplace as adults. However, they survived.
If these people had not survived, the world might never have seen many awesome inventions. Many breakthroughs never would have happened.
For example, Edison might not have invented the electric light bulb. Bell may not have finished inventing the telephone.
Perhaps we would never have seen the first organ transplant. Where would we be without these people?
Bullying may be a dark part of human nature. But, I would not go so far as to say that it’s natural or normal.
Is Bullying Natural?
Bullying only destroys the human race.
An example of this would be the Nazi’s bullying of Jews during World War II. As a result, they ended up slaughtering six million of them during the holocaust.
Now, do you still think that bullying is necessary for the survival of our species?
Bullying is never okay! And sadly, I’ve heard many people refer to it as one of the above three. Understand that this is only a cop-out.
It’s a way to blame victims. And, it’s an excuse not to help those who are bullied.
If you are a bully or bystander and believe this garbage, then you are only lying to yourself. If you’re a victim, rest assured that you are not weak, nor are you undesirable.
It only means that you are brave enough to think outside the box. Moreover, you refuse to be a follower.
Those are characteristics that you should be proud of. Why? Because you have the opportunity to go far and make a difference in society.
Therefore, don’t give up! Give yourself a chance! You never know. In the future, you may be the person who brings positive change to the world. And your bullies will more than likely end up living less than desirable lives.
So, what are Darwinism, natural selection, and survival of the fittest?
Is Bullying Natural?
What is Darwinism and Natural Selection?
There are 3 cop outs bullies hide behind. Darwinism, Natural Selection, and Survival of the Fittest.
Darwinism refers to the theory of natural selection. In other words, humans and animals choose mates based on their preferred inherited genes and traits. For instance, partners are likely to select those with specific physical and mental characteristics over others.
The purpose of this is to ensure the production of healthier offspring. That’s fine and dandy. I get that. However, bullying has nothing to do with natural selection. Why? Because bullying is abuse.
It’s one thing not to prefer a particular person for a relationship or friendship. That’s okay because we like what we like. However, when a bully sets out to bully a target, they must stalk them to do it.
Again, bullying is abuse. Natural selection doesn’t involve bullying. You choose certain people over others. And it doesn’t have to involve bullying.
This is why Darwinism and Natural Selection are excuses bullies use to cop out behind.
When you choose a particular person over the other, it doesn’t involve bullying the other. In other words, just because someone chooses someone else over you, it doesn’t mean they’re out to harm you. Bullying, on the other hand, seeks to do deliberate harm.
What is Survival of the Fittest?
Survival of the fittest is the theory that organisms best suited to their environment are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass their superior genes to their offspring.
Again, this doesn’t involve bullying. It simply means that those who are best suited to their environments are more likely to survive. For instance, an Inuit can survive in cold climates. In contrast, someone from the tropics will have a hard time adapting and surviving in the Arctic.
It doesn’t involve bullying.
Is Bullying Natural?
5 myths about bullying we need to be aware of
Myths are often mistaken for facts. Therefore, they can obscure people’s judgment. They can also blind you to bullying behavior, even when it’s happening right in front of your face.
Moreover, myths can even make it hard for a person to know when someone is abusing them.
Here are a few myths to be aware of:
Myth 1. Targets are weak losers who deserve bullying.
People suffering at the hands of bullies are not weak, nor are they losers. Over the past decade or so, we have found that bullies tend to target those who are genuinely good people with kind hearts.
Bullies are evil people who perceive goodness, kindness, and generosity as weaknesses. Therefore, they target people who have these qualities.
Additionally, bullies often target those who are multi-talented, star achievers, and performers. Understand that bullies perceive these individuals as a threat to their power. Why? One-upmanship is one way bullies can feel a sense of power.
When high-achieving targets outshine bullies, they unwittingly provoke jealous rage in them. And these bullies will pull out all the stops to make them pay and set them up to fail.
If nothing else, understand this! Bullies hate to be outshone, outdone, or beaten at anything! Nobody deserves bullying. Ever! Bullying is harmful and can destroy someone’s life.
There are myths about bullying that don’t help.
Is Bullying Natural?
Myth 2. Bullies are brave, strong, cool, exciting, and in control.
Ha! Bullies are the opposite of these things. Let’s explain further.
Bullies are brave.
Nope! Bullies are great, big cowards, but they’re good at hiding it. Bullies live by the motto that strength comes in numbers, so they run around in packs. They hide their cowardice behind groups of sycophants or flying monkeys.
You will never catch a bully alone because a bully doesn’t know how to stand alone. Their followers are there to support them and do their bidding.
Bullies get their power from an entourage. Without their wingmen to cover them, they would be powerless.
Bullies are strong.
No! Bullies are weak. However, they hide that behind a veneer of aggression and false bravado. Understand that bullies draw their power from the fear they instill in others.
What bullies are is a bunch of bluffs, blowhards, and windbags. The tough act they put on is a way they hide their weaknesses.
Bullies are cool.
Wrong! Bullies are pathetic. They bluff, they posture, and they one-up people. They always have to be better than anyone else.
All of this are signs of insecurity and self-loathing. Because if they were secure in themselves, they wouldn’t resort to this kind of buffoonery.
Is Bullying Natural?
Bullies are exciting.
They may seem exciting at first, but they quickly become boring. Why? Because they’ll talk incessantly about themselves.
They will brag and showboat until you’ll want to chew off your arm to get away from them. And they won’t be so exciting once they turn on you.
Bullies are in control.
Really? Is that what you want to call it? Um… not!
Bullies can’t control themselves and their own pathetic lives. So, they seek to control you to feel powerful. And in doing that, they not only create victims, they also develop enemies who hate them with a passion.
If you’re a bully, you may only control someone to a certain degree. You may put the fear of God in them. But you’ll never control what they think of you and how they feel about you.
Why? Because the mind and thoughts are free. And if you run across a person who has a strong sense of self and doesn’t fall for your guff, what are you going to do then?
Is Bullying Natural?
Myth 3. “Bullying is a normal rite of passage that all kids endure.”
Not so. There’s nothing normal about bullying. It’s perverse, twisted, and sick.
Bullying only speaks volumes about their own mental imbalance and lack of character. A bully’s behavior doesn’t reflect on you. It only reflects on them.
And the more we learn about bullying, the more evidence we seem to get that supports this.
Myth 4. Bullying builds character.
No, it doesn’t. It tears it down. Why? Because it erodes the confidence you were born with. It causes anxiety because, when you’re bullied, you no longer feel safe.
Myth 5. Bullying is only Natural Selection and Survival of the Fittest.
It may be a dark part of human nature. But a reason doesn’t equal an excuse. Bullies and their enablers often use this little line as an excuse to normalize their pathetic behavior.
It’s important to dispel these myths. So, do not fall for this garbage.
Never blame yourself for other people’s crappy behavior. Hold on to your truth. And if anyone rattles off any of the above lines to you when you speak out against bullying, counter them and do it with conviction.
Is Bullying Natural?
In Closing:
Bullies are all about abusing others, then making excuses for it. Even bystanders and schools make excuses for bullies. And the myths only serve to encourage bullies and blame victims.
However, bullying is harmful, and it can be dangerous to victims! The effects are often devastating.
Therefore, the next time someone bullies you and makes excuses for it, call them out on their bullshit. And do it straight to their faces.
See their behavior for what it is. Abuse!
This post was all about whether bullying is natural so that you can recognize hogwash and counter it confidently.
Related posts you’ll enjoy:
1. Bullying Myths: 5 Widely-Held Beliefs about Bullies and Victims
2. Excuses Schools Make for Bullies: Here are 7 Most Common
3. Effects of Bullying on the Victim: 13 Symptoms of Bullied People
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Aum Shanti
Thank you, Shanti!
Excellent post, Cherie! I heard all that BS all through my life. Bullying toughens people up, no it doesn’t.
As for the survival of the fittest excuse, you could turn it around and say that if a target gets a gun and shoots the bully dead, then the target did it to survive.
My latest post will be of interest to you.
Thank you so much, Michael! You have a point there. I’ll definitely check out your post.
I loathe the right of passage thing. Even some non-bullies seem to believe that line of crap. It was never a rite of passage. How many kids fake being sick to skip going to school because they are being tormented by bullies? How many adults live a life of low self-esteem because of the horrible treatment they received growing up. How many people have been led to suicide?
Exactly, Jill. Every time I hear the right of passage crap, it chaps my hide! It’s not a right of passage! It’s sickening, is what it is!
I like your illustrations of bullying. Corruption is a big act of bullying.
Thank you so much, America On Coffee! You’re right! Corruption is a big act of bullying and I will be addressing bullying and corruption very soon. I think it needs to be addressed.
Bullying is somewhat instinctive, but human nature is not only instinctual.
Actually, fighting bullies and fighting against their dumb domination helped humans to evolve.
You’re right, Nautilus. Fighting bullies does help you to evolve… into a stronger and more confident person, but only if you fight them successfully.