popularity and bullying in school

Popularity and Bullying

‘Want to know how popularity and bullying can go hand in hand. Here is all the information you need to know.

popularity and bullying

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:

1. Why People Reward Bullies

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

pack mentality psychology

Pack Mentality: All About Group Bullying

‘Want to know all about pack mentality and why people conform to groups? And do you want to learn how conformity leads people to victimize others? Here’s all the information you need to know.

pack mentality

We are all social creatures by nature. Isolation from a group is terrifying to people and we feel a sense of relief when we find others who think the same way we

When we’re in a group, we’re compelled to take up the opinions and ideas of that group because it brings us relief and a sense of belonging. It’s a fact that a person will act differently in a group than they will individually. Group behavior is contagious. It grows and gains momentum, and it does so very quickly.

Therefore, in this post, you will learn all about pack mentality, conformity, and how it puts you in danger if you are a victim of bullying.

Once you learn all about this important, even life-saving information. You will be more compelled to take the steps necessarily to keep yourself safe from group bullying.

This post is all about pack mentality and the danger it poses to bullying victims so that you can do what you must do to ensure your own safety.

Pack mentality

If you’re a target of bullying, group behavior has ways of changing your social identity and rewriting your history. Also, it creates more absurd accusations against you.

With time, group behavior gets more and more bizarre until their own hatred blinds them. Moreover, no one knows what really happened or how the hostility even got started. All everyone in the group knows is they want you destroyed and will stop at nothing to make that happen!

In a case of bullying by an entire group, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve done anything to bring the hostility about. And it doesn’t matter whether there is or isn’t anything wrong with you. Whether you’re innocent of any wrongdoing is irrelevant.

In fact, you more than likely did nothing wrong, and there’s nothing wrong with you. Again, that doesn’t matter when you have an entire group of people who detest you.

It doesn’t matter if you are a great person with a heart of gold. Also, it doesn’t matter if you have stunning good looks and a truckload of talent. Why? Because these people could care less about those things.

All that matters is that they hate you, and they’re out to get you!

And that’s a fact! They’re no different than a pack of wild, pit bull dogs.

Therefore, you absolutely must prepare and protect yourself! And your first step to doing this is to understand that bullies who bully in groups never act rationally. When people bully in groups, any logic goes right down the toilet. And emotion always prevails.

When bullies attack, bystanders usually join in. Everyone in the group bands together to humiliate and hurt you. And they have a shared love of seeing you suffer.

In a large group, bullies and bystanders act like fans rooting for their favorite ball team and against the rival team. In a case of bullying, you are that rival team.

Pack Mentality:

A Group of bullies is much more powerful than one bully.

This is much more dangerous. Why? Because the bullies and their loyal sycophants vastly outnumber you. Therefore, they know that it’s safe to show hostility.

People in groups are far more open with abuse. Why? Because their numbers give them more anonymity and protection.

Combine their numbers with the group’s comradery and hostility, and they become even more powerful. And dangerous! It’s the same kind of scenario you see in political fights and persecution.

The enthusiasm of the bullies and supporters is that of an entire nation when its soldiers return home from war. It spreads throughout the group with extreme fervor. It exalts their “heroes” while degrading the enemy.

In sports against the opposing team, in the military against the enemy on the battlefield, or a group of bullies and bystanders against a target, the mentality and feelings of hostility are all the same. It’s the dynamic of “us versus them.”

When bullies turn an entire school, workplace, or organization against you, the entire group shares a great degree of esprit de corps. In other words, members of the group solidify themselves to one another. Moreover, they develop a sense of pride in their group.

At the same time, they distance themselves from you. In this, they overplay the sameness in their clique. Moreover, they exaggerate how different you are from them.

The greater the hatred and hostility, the more they band together and bond with each other.  And the more they wish to harm you. And they don’t only want to hurt you, they want to eliminate you.

The more you know about pack mentality, the better prepared you’ll be when the mob comes for you.

Pack Mentality strengthens group cohesion.

In Robert Greene’s book entitled, “The Laws of Human Nature,” I once read that everyone needs a hated enemy and that there’s a positive side to having one… at least for them.  I’ve found that with packs of bullies, this is true.

Bullies in groups need an enemy, whether real or imagined. This helps them band together and fight against- an “us-versus-them” object.

Why? Because the presence of an enemy has always served to strengthen group cohesion and unite members. Groups use their hatred of the enemy to tighten the bonds among it’s members.

Moreover, if they can get anyone with power to join in the hatred, all the better. Why? Because they can more easily align together and eliminate you. The person in power can anyone from a teacher to a politician.

Sadly, love doesn’t unite people like hate does. Having shared hatred for someone bands people together much quicker and more effectively.

Bullies get their power from an entourage.

Remember that there’s strength in numbers, and bullies must always have groupies to back them up. Therefore, you will never see a bully alone. Why? Because they can’t handle being by themselves.

Bullies are cowards! Wimps! Wusses! They always attack in groups because they need their wing men to back them up. The pack is where they draw their power.

Without their backup, bullies are just as powerless as you are. A bully is too afraid to attack you one on one because they fear that you would bury them where they fall.

The bigger the group, the more intense the hatred. And the more intense the hatred, the stronger the solidarity and he less likely it is that the group will disband.

Hatred is the glue that binds the members together.

Dog Pack Mentality:

The victim serves several purposes for the group.

If you’re a victim of a large group of bullies, you are the tie that binds them. You unwittingly assure that the group always stays together as one.

Without you, a group of bullies is weak and things get boring real fast. Therefore, it won’t be long before they split up and go their separate ways.

If you suffer bullying from a group, they also need you for shared entertainment. They will use you as a victory trophy to collect and display. Also, they must use you as a guinea pig to test their strength and power on.

You are there for them to show others proof that they really are powerful.

Therefore, you give your bullies many outcomes. And once you’ve served your purpose, your bullies and their supporters will neatly and quietly dispose of you. Then, they’ll select a new victim.

The more you know about pack mentality, the better you can protect yourself against it.

Each member conforms to the rest of the group.

Conformity can be good because we conform to sensible laws and rules in order to ensure a safe and well-run society. Conformity holds us together.

However, when people conform at their own expense or to harm another person, that’s when it’s a bad thing. That’s when conformity becomes toxic conformity.

As mentioned earlier, hate is what fuels pack mentality. But toxic conformity also perpetuates it. Therefore, each member will take turns bullying you because they know it’s expected of them by the rest of the pack.

In fact, some of the members will bully you just to fit in.

As a result, the group rewards each member with inclusion and acceptance. Moreover, those rewards come at your expense.

We call this, “pack mentality” or “herd mentality.” And most people will do anything, right or wrong, to follow the rest of the herd.

Pack Mentality:

What is the difference between conformity and toxic conformity?

Again, conformity can be a good thing because it ensures a peaceful society. Everyone conforms to laws that keep peace and ensure safety.

On the other hand, toxic conformity only brings danger.

Conformity encourages people to speak up when they see wrongdoings and injustices. Therefore, it brings awareness of suffering.

Toxic conformity, on the other hand, forces people to stay silent about atrocities. It only blinds people to any pain others may experience.

Conformity promotes the love care for the individual. Toxic conformity promotes hatred and abuse of the individual.

What happens if a few members of the Bullying pack don’t conform?

Each member expects the others to act the same way they do. They expect them agree with everything they say and do. Right or wrong, they also expect them to keep their mouths shut.

In other words, each person must go along to get along.

So, what happens to them if they don’t bully you like the rest of the pack expects them to? They will be ostracized by the rest of the group. Moreover, the non-conformer will likely become the group’s new target.

They may be subjected to smear campaigns or physical violence. In extreme cases, they may even be murdered. Therefore, each member of the pack knows that they’d better conform or else.

So, they bully you to protect their own hide.

Therefore, when a pack of bullies comes for you, you must know where their hostility comes from. And you must take the appropriate measures to protect yourself.

Pack Mentality:

So, what can you do to protect yourself from a large group of bullies?

The effects of this kind of bullying can be severe. Therefore, it’s important that you take steps to defend yourself.

if you are a victim of bullies with pack mentality, especially if they’re in a large group you can call one of the members out by name and yell, “Stop!” When you call one or more members by name, you are removing their anonymity.

Therefore, you will shock them back to reality and they might just go away.

  If that doesn’t work, the best thing you can do is remove yourself from the environment.

For instance, if you suffer this form of bullying in school, you may need to transfer schools. If it’s happening at work, you will need to create an exit plan and begin looking for a new job as soon as possible.

If this kind of bullying is coming from a band of townies in a community, it’s best if you just packed up and moved to another area.

Granted, either of these things may be difficult to do. However, it’s crucial if you have a band of bullies on your trail. And what other choice will you have?

 Change, especially positive change, is never easy. However, persecuted people have uprooted and left their home countries for the US in order to attain freedom.

Moreover, they found a better life. So, how much easier would it for you to leave a toxic environment? Move to a place where you can be safe and where you can grow and flourish. Only then will you live in peace!

This post is all about pack mentality so that you can recognize it and take steps to keep yourself safe from harm.

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

1. Effects of Bullying on the Victim: 13 Symptoms of Bullied People 

2. How to Defend Yourself from Bullies: 5 Powerful Strategies