The Effects of Bullying on the Young Mind

By Nikita Kheni

Bullying has immense consequences on developing young minds. Almost every child has either seen in happen, but there are many children who have experienced it while growing up.

Several arguments are made that say bullying is a part of growing up since it teaches kids to grow a thicker skin. In reality, it makes them more anxious, more stressed, and more insecure. Numerous studies show that stress levels in children increase when they face bullying, causing cortisol levels to increase. Abnormal cortisol levels negatively affect the development of the hippocampus — a part of the brain that is involved in learning and memory. It can also affect serotonin levels and lead to depression. This affects how they respond to stress in their adult lives.

Bullying is not limited to just teasing and taunting, it can be racial bullying as well. Jane Elliot, an American educator used to run an experiment in her classrooms to teach her students about the negative consequences associated with stereotyping and discrimination. She conducted the first experiment just days after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. In this experiment, she used eye color as a way to determine which children were “inferior” or “superior” and found that the kids believed her and treated other kids based on their eye color. Those with brown eyes were bullied because they did not have blue eyes. This experiment is shown in the “Eye of the Storm” film. Although the experiment was based on how discrimination and stereotyping, it was connected to bullying as well because the “superior” kids would bully the “inferior” kids during playtime and lunch. The “inferior” kids were sad and angry since they could not understand why the color of their eyes determined whether they were better or worse than other kids.

As social media grows and younger kids gain access to it, cyberbullying also increases in the form of comments, often anonymous ones, so no one is held accountable. It reaches a greater audience and can multiply the effects of bullying rapidly. This creates a variety of issues and takes a toll on children’s mental health.

The bystander effect is common in instances of bullying. Other children often do not step in because they do not want to become subject to the bullying as well. Several issues also lie in how school administrators react to bullying. Often, complaints are not addressed, and if they are, they are not addressed in a manner that actually helps the situation. Antibullying assemblies are common across the United States, but they are mostly performative actions to make the school look like it cares. There are not enough professionals in education systems to handle bullying. School becomes a toxic environment rather than a nurturing one when this occurs.

In the long-term, victims of bullying are likely to struggle with depression and anxiety due to how bullying affected their self-esteem and perception of self-worth. Maintaining good mental health is necessary for young children and teenagers because poor mental health can be life-long struggles if not addressed. There is not enough support available to people

Addressing bullying at its early stages can make an enormous difference in so many children’s lives. Schools should provide environments where students feel comfortable reporting bullying, and where students know something will be done to address it. Bullying has the potential to shape a child’s entire life, and it is crucial to ensure that it is not normalized any longer. Positive connections and support can change one’s life.