Key Difference – Bullying and Abuse
Bullying and abuse are both forms of mistreatment, but they can be distinguished by their context and target. Bullying is the act of intimidating a weaker person and often occurs in school settings, while abuse refers to all forms of ill-treatment of an individual or entity and can take place in various settings such as homes, schools, organizations, and governments.
What is Bullying?
Bullying is the act of intimidating a weaker person, usually taking place in school settings where children who are perceived to have a higher ground bully the weaker child. This is a result of an imbalance of power, which is not always real and often perceived. Bullying can take various forms, such as physical aggression, isolation, spreading rumors, and name-calling. It can have a negative impact on the child who is being bullied, leading to a dislike of going to school and, in some cases, causing depression. Bullying can also extend beyond the school context, as seen in instances of cyber-bullying through social media.
What is Abuse?
Abuse refers to all forms of ill-treatment of an individual or entity and encompasses numerous dimensions. Examples of abuse include abuse of power, abuse of position, child abuse, domestic abuse, abuse of information, drug abuse, and human rights abuse. Domestic abuse is a well-known form of abuse that entails all forms of physical, verbal, emotional, social, and economic mistreatment in the domestic arena. Abuse of power is another common form of abuse occurring in various settings such as organizations, schools, and governments, where people in higher ranks or positions use their authority in unacceptable and often unethical ways for their benefit.
What is the difference between Bullying and Abuse?
The main differences between bullying and abuse are their definitions, individual targets, and contexts:
– Bullying is the act of intimidating a weaker person, while abuse refers to all forms of ill-treatment of an individual or entity.
– Bullying is directed at an individual who is perceived to be weak, while abuse can target an individual, object, position, or other entity.
– Bullying mostly takes place in schools, while abuse occurs in a variety of settings such as homes, schools, organizations, governments, and more.
