Bullying has become a hot topic in the last couple of years. Whether it’s because society has changed what qualifies as acceptable behavior in the workplace, on campus, and in schools or whether it’s because we are more aware of the negative psychological effects that bullying can have during all phases of life has not been determined. But the fact remains that we are becoming more cognizant of bullying and its effects on not only the target of the bullying, but also the bystanders who witness such behavior.
As we are becoming more aware of bullying, a shift to claim all bad behavior as bullying has also been on the rise. Did someone get mad at you and slam the door? Bullying. Did someone send you a singular email that called you fat? Bullying. Did your supervisor tell you that the task asked of you was incomplete and needed to be redone? Bullying. Did a professor tell you that your work needs improvement or you’re likely going to fail the class? Bullying.