Definitions of bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence

Bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence are all interpersonal behaviours that can create or contribute to negative social environments.

Bullying

The national definition of bullying for Australian schools says:

Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.

Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records).

Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

Behaviours that do not constitute bullying include:

mutual arguments and disagreements (where there is no power imbalance)
not liking someone or a single act of social rejection
one-off acts of meanness or spite
isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence.

However, these conflicts still need to be addressed and resolved. Likewise not all online issues are bullying. (Online bullying is sometimes referred to as cyberbullying and refers to bullying that is carried out through information and communication technologies.)

Harassment

Harassment is behaviour that targets an individual or group due to their:

identity, race, culture or ethnic origin
religion
physical characteristics
gender
sexual orientation
marital, parenting or economic status
age
ability or disability.

It offends, humiliates, intimidates or creates a hostile environment. It may be:

an ongoing pattern of behaviour or a single act
directed randomly or towards the same person(s)
intentional or unintentional.

Discrimination

Discrimination occurs when people are treated less favourably than others because of their:

identity, race, culture or ethnic origin
religion
physical characteristics
gender
sexual orientation
marital, parenting or economic status
age
ability or disability.

Violence

Violence is the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against another person(s) that results in psychological harm, injury or in some cases death. It may involve provoked or unprovoked acts and can be a single incident, a random act or can occur over time.

These definitions outline key characteristics and have been taken from Student Wellbeing Hub https://studentwellbeinghub.edu.au/resources-and-help/Glossary?origin-host=www.safeschoolshub.edu.au#/

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