~ BULLIES ~

            Bully cases are on the rise! We can see it happening almost everywhere, especially outside the schools compound after school. According to American Psychological Association, in one of their articles published in 2008, the term ‘bully’ is defined as an aggressive behavior that is intended to cause distress or harm and that involves an imbalance of power of strength between aggressor and victim. According to them also, 70% of all high school students reported that they have been bullied. Before looking for deterrents to overcome this issue, we should look at the major causes of bully cases. Some of them include influence by movies and action video games, peer pressure, insufficient effort put in by schools and parents.

            Movies and action video games are amongst the causes of bully cases. Youths tend to lose ethical values after watching movies which contain violent scenes like gunfights and people fighting. In certain movies also, bad guys are put in a positive light. They gain victory through improper and aggressive ways. All this indirectly inculcate violence among youths. Action video games like ‘Grand Theft Auto’, ‘Counter-Strike’, ‘Street Fighters’ inculcate immoral values in players. At times, players are required to kill enemies and even teammates to proceed to the next level. This may cause them to do the same to their friends or schoolmates to gain ‘reputation’ and excitement. Hence, movies and action video games are vivid examples that cause bully cases.

            Another cause of bully cases is peer pressure. According to a psychology test done by Dr. James Dobson, a psychologist and writer, he concluded that youths gain more courage when they are with friends. They always think what the other peers are doing is right. Youths also feel difficult to stand alone, afraid of being rejected and lack of confidence when dealing with new environment. So, when they mix around with the wrong groups which are not matured enough to differentiate what is right and wrong, they will involve in social issues like bullies. Bullies also act aggressively to victims for the sake of showing off. Thus, peer pressure is amongst the causes of bully cases among youths.

           

            Next, bully cases are also caused by insufficient effort put in by schools and parents. Today, enforcement of school rules is not carried out strict enough. Thus, they are not afraid of the school rules and tend to take opportunity to exert their own authority over students. At the same time, parents who are busy with work do not take any interest in their children’s development. Children are always left to maids, baby sitters and school teachers. According to an article written in The Pearl Magazine in 2006, children need attention from parents. Children whose parents are not concerned about them tend to join gangs and become negatively influenced. Therefore, when the school authority and parents do not put enough effort in monitoring the youths, they will slowly involve in social issues like bully.

            In a nutshell, everyone plays a part in lowering bully cases. The community should always keep an eye on the youths’ behaviours. They should also report to the authority there and then when bully cases take place. The government, school teachers and parents should also be aware about it and strive hard to reduce bully cases. This is indeed essential to ensure youths, who are going to inherit the nation tomorrow, are molded and taught properly. Then only the future of the country is guaranteed.

By,

Ng Ray Man,

Head Prefect of SMK Gunung Rapat.