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  1. Home
  2. Bullying
  3. Other Aggressive Behavior

Other Types of Aggressive Behavior

There are many other types of aggressive behavior that don't fit the definition of bullying. This does not mean that they are any less serious or require less attention than bullying. Rather, these behaviors require different prevention and response strategies.

Peer Conflict

It is not bullying when two kids with no perceived power imbalance fight, have an argument, or disagree. These behaviors can occur at different ages, including early childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Parents and caregivers, school staff, and other adults can help younger children develop skills for getting along with others in age-appropriate ways. Conflict resolution or peer mediation may be appropriate when these situations occur during adolescence and young adulthood.

Helping Young Children Get Along with Others

Early childhood often marks the first opportunity for young children to interact with each other. Between the ages of 3 and 5, kids are learning how to get along with each other, cooperate, share, and understand their feelings. Young children may behave aggressively and act out when they are angry or don't get what they want, but this is not bullying. Still, there are ways to help children.

  • Model positive ways for young children to make friends. For example, practice pleasant ways that children can ask to join others in play and take turns in games. Coach older children to help reinforce these behaviors as well. Praise children for appropriate behavior. Help young children understand what behaviors are friendly.
  • Help young children learn the consequences of certain actions in terms they can understand. For example, say "if you don't share, other children may not want to play with you." Encourage young children to tell an adult if they are treated in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable, upset or unhappy, or if they witness other children being harmed.
  • Set clear rules for behavior and monitor children's interactions carefully. Step in quickly to stop aggressive behavior or redirect it before it occurs.
  • Use age-appropriate consequences for aggressive behavior. Young children should be encouraged to say "I'm sorry" whenever they hurt a peer, even accidentally. The apology should also be paired with an action. For example, young children could help rebuild a knocked over block structure or replace a torn paper or crayons with new ones.

Teen Dating Violence

Teen Dating violence can take place in person, online, or through technology. It is a type of intimate partner violence that can include the following types of behavior:

  • Physical violence is when a person hurts or tries to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking, or using another type of physical force.
  • Sexual violence involves forcing or attempting to force a partner into sexual acts or touching without their consent, including situations where the partner cannot consent. It also includes non-physical behaviors, like sharing sexual images or sexting without consent.
  • Psychological aggression is the use of verbal and non-verbal communication with the intent to harm a partner mentally or emotionally and exert control over a partner.
  • Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention and contact by a current or former partner that causes fear or safety concerns for an individual victim or someone close to the victim.

Youth Violence

Youth violence is the intentional use of physical force or power to threaten or harm others by young people ages 10-24. It can include things like fighting, bullying, threats with weapons, and gang-related violence. A young person can be involved with youth violence as a victim, offender, or witness.

Aggressive Behavior in Young Adults and College Students

Although media reports often call unwanted, aggressive behavior among young adults "bullying," this is not exactly accurate. Behaviors that are traditionally considered bullying among school-aged youth often require new attention and strategies in young adults and college students. Many of these behaviors are considered crimes under state and federal law and may trigger serious consequences after the age of 18.

How Young Adults Can Get Help

Some forms of cyberbullying are forms of harassment that cross the line into criminal activity. Some states have chosen to prosecute young people who bully for criminal harassment, including encouraging someone to die by suicide. Other tactics may occur in dating relationships and can turn into interpersonal violence.

  • Encourage young adults to talk to someone they trust.
  • Determine if the behavior violates campus policies or laws. Review student codes of conduct, state criminal laws, and civil rights laws.
  • Report criminal acts to campus or community law enforcement.
  • Consult the college's Title IX coordinator to help determine if the behavior is sexual harassment.
  • Many college campuses also have an ombudsperson or similar person who handles a variety of concerns and complaints. He or she can help direct the young adult to appropriate campus resources.
  • Young adults may be reluctant to seek help for cyberbullying, although they do recognize it as a serious issue for their age group. Encourage young adults to report cyberbullying.
  • Learn more about the spectrum from cyberbullying to online harassment to cyber hate and how to protect safe cyberspace.
  • Find a local counselor or other mental health services.

Hazing

Hazing is the use of degrading, abusive, or dangerous activities by a group to initiate new members, regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.

Harassment

Both bullying and harassment include power and control and actions that harm another person. Harassment is unwelcome conduct that is severe, pervasive, or persistent and creates a hostile environment.

Stalking

Stalking is repeated harassing or threatening behavior such as following a person, damaging a person's property, or making harassing phone calls. These tactics are unwanted and cause fear or safety concerns in a victim.

Workplace Bullying

The term bullying is typically used to refer to behavior that occurs between school-aged children. However, adults can be repeatedly aggressive and use power over each other, too. Adults in the workplace have a number of different laws that apply to them that do not apply to kids.

Hate Crimes

According to the Department of Justice, hate crimes are defined, at the federal level, as a crime motivated by bias against actual or perceived characteristics listed in the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act - 18 U.S.C. § 249. Acts of prejudice that are not crimes and do not involve violence, threats, or property damage are called bias or hate incidents.

Help is available

Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

  • Call or text 988
  • Chat at 988lifeline.org
  • Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.

Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org.

Date Last Reviewed