What is bullying exactly? Back when you were in school were you bullied or did you bully others? What do you consider to be the definition of bullying?

Bullying can be defined as the use of one’s strength or status to intimidate, injure, or humiliate another person of lesser strength or status. Bullying can be categorized as physical, verbal, or social. Physical bullying involves physical injury or threat of injury to someone, while verbal bullying refers to teasing or insulting someone. Social bullying refers to the use of peer rejection or exclusion to humiliate or isolate a victim. Bullying must be distinguished from other forms of peer aggression or conflict; bullying always involves a power imbalance between the bully and the victim.

So did you bully others or were you bullied in school?

An estimated 1.7 million 6th to 10th grade students are considered bullies, from a study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Bullying seems to be growing in the US in the past several months compared to prior years. As an average the United States is average among other countries for students that have bullied more than twice in the last month.

A dramatic series of school shootings between 1995 and 1999 startled the nation. Deadly violence within schools struck fear in the public and particularly school-age youth across the nation. Beginning in 1989, there had been an increase in school violence, ranging from verbal harassment, threats of harm, and violent crime.

During 1997-1999 high profile violence dominated even though violent deaths relating to school activities was down by 40%.

So how can you tell if your kid is a bully or being bullied? Try this quiz out.