‘Want to know the objectives of bullying? Here are all the goals of bullies that you need to know about.
There are many reasons people bully. And they vary from bully to bully. Therefore, in this post, you will learn all the objectives of bullying to relieve any confusion you may have.
Once you learn all about these objectives, you will have the knowledge that will serve as a buffer to your self-esteem. Moreover, you will be better able to outflank bullies when they come after you.
This post is all about the objectives of bullying, so that you won’t be racking your brain, asking, “Why are they bullying me?”
Objectives of Bullying
Understand that when bullies bully you, they have goals that they want to achieve. No one does anything for nothing. There is always an eventual payoff to everything we do. This is a part of human nature.
Once you understand why people bully, you gain a whole new perspective on it. So, why do bullies bully? Here are all the goals and objectives of bullying behavior.
1. To Undermine your Confidence.
Bullying always starts small, in little-bitty bites. Little by little, bullies take tiny nibbles out of your confidence.
It begins with a sarcastic comment here, a backhanded compliment there. Or, they may give you a contemptuous glare this week and an eye roll next week.
However, you must realize why they do this. Bullies start with these subtle jabs to soften you up for bigger attacks later.
At the same time, they can protect themselves from detection. If the attacks are subtle, who’s going to notice besides you? And how are you going to defend yourself?
You’ll only look unstable if you openly address it. But you still need to confront this in the beginning stage. Why? Because it will only get worse from here if you don’t.
Therefore, the best way to deal with this kind of bullying is to return fire using the same tactics they use. For example, if they give you a dirty look, return the gesture. And if they hurl a zinger or two your way, respond with one of your own.
By doing this, you protect your mental health.
2. Objectives of Bullying:
To exert power over you
Bullies want to take power over you. Once you realize this, you will be less likely to allow it. You see? Most bullies have no control over their own lives. Therefore, they wish run yours.
Moreover, bullies are addicted to power. Therefore, they get a rush from it. The problem is that this power high doesn’t last long. And once it wears off, they will come back for more.
This is why they keep attacking. But you don’t have to take that kind of abuse. You can stand up to bullies. And how you do it is to use the same tactics they use and return fire.
This lets them know that you aren’t an easy target.
3. To Damage Your reputation
This is especially true with social bullies. They use relational aggression to turn your friends against you and make it hard for you to make new ones.
Bullies do this by using gossip and smear campaigns to sully your good name. They may spread lies and rumors about you. And they may set you up to look bad in public.
You see, if they can make you look evil or defective in the eyes of others, then they can isolate you. They can cut you off from support.
And once you have no support, bullies can bully you anytime they feel like it. And they can get away with it.
Why? Because if everyone hates you, who’s going to stop them from abusing you?
4. Objectives of Bullying:
To take away your credibility
Once your credibility is gone, no one will trust you. Therefore, who’s going to believe you when you tell someone that you’re being bullied?
By making you appear untrustworthy, bullies don’t have to worry about you telling on them. Why? Because no one will believe you if you do.
Then, they can bully you freely and with impunity. So, you must do what you can to defend yourself.
5. To raise their own social status
Many bullies bully to climb the social ladder. This is often a motivation of school bullies who wish to become popular.
Sadly, to most kids these days, it’s cool to be cruel. Therefore, these kinds of bullies think that for them to rise, someone else must fall.
The ends justify the means. Right? If they can get their high status at your expense, then why not?
6. to Demoralize you
When bullies demoralize you, they erode your confidence. Bullies do this to weaken you.
You see? A confident person won’t put up with abuse. Moreover, they won’t give in to fear. This threatens the bullies’ power.
Your confidence is like a fortress. To defeat an enemy, you must break down their fortress. It’s the same with bullies. If they have selected you as their target, they must demoralize you.
Once they do that, it’s easier for them to take power over you. This is why you must never ignore bullying. You must respond with strength.
7. Objectives of Bullying:
to Tighten Bonds in Their In-Group
Sadly, hate is a stronger emotion than love. Nothing unites people faster than the shared hatred of something or someone.
There’s strength in numbers. Therefore, is it any wonder bullies usually run in packs? You will never see them alone because the mere thought of standing alone scares them to death. The group is their power.
The stronger the solidarity, the less likely the group will disband. Hatred is the glue that binds the members together.
You are the tool that holds them together. Without you, the group is weak. And things will get boring real fast. And it won’t be long before they split up and go their separate ways.
Therefore, they bully you to bond with one another.
8. to make you afraid
Bullying thrives on fear. Without your fear, bullies don’t stand a chance. Fear is the fuel that drives them.
Therefore, no matter how difficult, you must not let them scare you. So, how do you do that? You do it by realizing that your bullies are the real cowards.
Why? Because they have to bully you to appear tough. Moreover, they put on the biggest facades. Bullies have an image to maintain.
Therefore, they work hard to keep up appearances. If others saw them for who they really are, no one would like them. And that is the bullies’ biggest fear.
9. Objectives of Bullying:
to silence your voice
Sadly, if you are being bullied, you may keep it to yourself. You don’t speak up because you’re afraid of making the situation worse.
For example, you may fear retaliation. Or, you might be too embarrassed to talk about it. Maybe you blame yourself for their behavior.
Whatever your reasons, there’s something you should know right now. Bullying thrives on silence. And there are reasons bullies try to keep you quiet.
Think about it. If they can keep you quiet, they maintain their power over you. Understand that your voice is powerful. And your bullies know it.
10. to make them feel better about themselves
Many bullies have low self-esteem. Therefore, the only way they know how to raise it is to trash yours.
You don’t have to allow them to do that. Therefore, use this little nugget of truth to stand up to them.
For instance, you can respond with, “Is putting others down the only way you can feel better about yourself?”
Then walk away. By responding this way, you are bringing attention to your bullies’ lack of confidence. At the same time, you’re defending yourself with strength.
11. Objectives of Bullying:
to distract negative attention away from themselves
Many bullies will bully you as a distraction. If everyone’s too busy watching you, they won’t notice the bully’s shortcomings. Therefore, the bully can keep hiding their flaws.
The hidden message is, “Don’t look over here, look over there.”
12. to project their feelings of insecurity onto you
Many bullies use protection for the same reasons. They do it to distract others’ attention from their behavior by focusing on your reaction to it.
Therefore, you get the blame.
13. to get attention and admiration
Bullies are the biggest attention whores. Moreover, they think that everyone should bow down and worship them.
If you’re in an environment that supports bullying, people will think that it’s cool to bully. So they will admire anyone who mistreats others.
This is exactly what the bully wants. Therefore, it’s up to you to stand up for yourself and give them the comeuppance they deserve.
Humiliate the bully with a good comeback, and the bullying will stop. I guarantee it.
14. For revenge
Many bullies bully to take revenge on someone they believe wronged them. It’s their way of getting even. However, anyone who seeks revenge against you is obsessed with you.
The best way to stand up to revenge bullying is to call it out publicly. You will humiliate them, and bullies hate to be humiliated. And chances are that they’ll leave you alone.
However, make sure that you aren’t dealing with a bully with narcissism. Why? Because this doesn’t work on those with NPD. It only enrages them and makes them more determined to come after you.
Just be aware of the type of bully you’re dealing with.
15. For Attention.
Most bullies are attention whores. Therefore, they bully to gain attention and admiration from bystanders.
So, if attention is what they want, why not help them out? Stand up to them by delivering a witty comeback that will shame the hell out of them. Then watch them squirm with embarrassment when everyone laughs at them.
This post was all about the objectives of bullying to motivate you to defend yourself and take back control of your life.
Related posts you’ll enjoy:
1. Causes of Bullying: 9 Proven Factors That Trigger Bullying
2. The Bullied Brain: 7 Ways Bullying Affects Mental Health
3. Fear of Setting Boundaries: 5 Reasons You Don’t Stand Up to Bullies
4. Negative Self-Beliefs: 5 Ways They Affect Victims of Bullying