Bullying, Genealogy of the Concept

Bullying is a serious problem among children in schools and institutions. However, it is only relatively recent that bullying has emerged as a field of research, although the phenomenon itself has likely existed in various forms among children for as long as humankind has walked the earth. The genealogy of bullying as a concept has taken the understanding of bullying in different directions with a varying emphasis on either the roles played by individuals (victims and perpetrators) or the social and relational aspects. This entry examines the origins of the concept of bullying and its expanded definition and usage since the 1990s.

Origins

Inspired by the pioneering ethologist Konrad Lorenz’s work on mob behavior among animals, Peter-Paul Heinemann (1931–2003) introduced the term mobbing almost 50 years ...

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