Sunday, April 5, 2020

COVID-19 and the Bully Hybrid


Debra Stewart PsyD

The Bully Hybrid during stressful events is a bully that becomes more manipulative and cunning than ever before. Resources are scarce; rewards are few; audiences become scarce, and victims are too diminished in the will to fight back. The bully's unmet needs increase, and relational bullying rises as does the formation of frenemy teams. In times of quarantine, the bully preys on already stressed targets for money, food, and other necessities of life and will find other bully-types to validate their behavior. 

Bystanders are essential in these situations, and they may come in the form of neighbors, clergy, coworkers, friends, or family members. There are always bystanders in bullying events or the aftermath of the victimization, and now, more than ever, bystanders are needed for surveillance to call or FaceTime with the home-bound and marginalized and report mental health abuse to the proper authorities.






 


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