Now let’s take a look first at what defines an adult bully. According to Cuncic (2023), it is a form of aggressive behavior in which someone deliberately and repeatedly causes injury or discomfort to another person. This can be done, for example, through personal insults, mean jokes, physically, threats or public shaming. Bullies come in different types. For instance, there are Tangible/material bullies who use their formal power or authority over a person to intimidate others, verbal bullies who insult the other person with their verbal words, passive-aggressive bullies who often make backhanded remarks, cyberbullies who harass someone else via the internet and physical bullies who can use violence.
These forms of bullying also affect adults. Bhatia (2023) tells us that in addition to the potential damage to the victim’s relationships and social status, bullying can also have adverse physical and psychological consequences for those affected. It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, increases the risk of anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and low self-esteem. It can also negatively affect the psychological well-being and morale of those who witness the bullying, increasing the risk of depression in the victim.
But what can a victim do when they are being bullied? Cuncic (2023) has come up with several solutions for this. The first way is to make eye contact. Many people underestimate the impact this can have on someone. When no eye contact is made, it is easier for a bully to not feel empathy. In addition, you come across as more confident when you make strong eye contact. Another way is to escape if possible. For example, if bullying happens in the workplace, you can ask if you can move your desk to another place to avoid this person as much as possible. In addition, you can document the offenses. When you file a complaint about someone at work, you have proof of all the bullying interactions that happened. If it is possible and safe, the best option is to address the bully directly about his behavior.
What a bystander could do when they see someone else being bullied is to question the behavior of the bully to shift the focus of the interaction. Additionally, a bystander can intervene as a group to demonstrate their disagreement with bullying and check in privately with the bullied person to let them know that they disagree with the other person's actions and that they care.
To summarize, adult bullying is a current problem that we have within society. Adult bullying can come in different forms, where one form could seem less harmful than the other. Adult bullying can have many negative effects on the victim. For that reason, adult bullying should always be taken seriously. The victim can deal with the bullying in different ways, but bystanders can also intervene to prevent the bullying and make the victim feel heard.
Bibliography:
- Bhatia, R., MD. (2023, November 29). Learn more about the silent epidemic of adult bullying. Psychology Today. Retrieved April 29, 2025, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/healthier-minds-happier-world/202311/how-to-recognize-adult-bullying
- Cuncic, A., MA. (2023, December 20). How to Deal With Adult Bullying. Verywell Mind. Retrieved April 29, 2025, from https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-deal-with-adult-bullying-5187158#:~:text=An%20adult%20bully%20can%20be,also%20fall%20into%20this%20category.
Thank you for writing this blog! I was not aware of bullying among adults at all, I expected that at some point they would be too mature for it, but unfortunately that is not the case. First of all, I think it is good that you highlight the different forms of adult bullies so that we do not tar them all with the same side. We are all aware that bullying a child can have lasting consequences for the victim, but when I read the consequences for adults I was very shocked. I expected that the victims could suffer from anxiety and sleep problems, but that it can even have physical problems such as cardiovascular disease I certainly did not expect and it makes it clear once again why it is so important to also pay attention to bullying among adults. At the beginning of your blog I thought about how difficult it is to solve this bullying, until I read about the solutions. It is reassuring to read that there are such low-threshold ways to deal with a bully, such as with eye contact, this makes it easier for a victim to stand up for themselves. I also think it is good that you pay attention to the bystanders because they should not be forgotten. This blog has made me very aware of bullying among adults and how this can be dealt with, thank you for that!
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