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Students Who Defend Victims of Bullying

 

Students Who Defend Victims of Bullying

In schools, bullying there is a big problem, some students are victims, and others just watch. But there are also students who try to help. These students are called defenders. They want to protect the victims and stop the bullying. The article from StopBullying.gov talks about these defenders and why they are important.

Defenders are not the same as bystanders, bystanders do nothing, they see the bullying but they stay silent. Defenders are different, they feel that bullying is not right, they feel sad when someone is hurt and they think: “What if that was me?” So some of them decide to act.

There are many ways to help, some defenders speak to the bully and say, “Stop that.” Others go to help the victim and say kind words. Some students talk to a teacher or to an adult. Some stay with the victim so the victim does not feel alone. All these actions can help stop the bullying or make it less bad.

The article explains that defenders have some special qualities. For example, they have empathy. That means they understand how others feel. They also have self-confidence, so they are not afraid to speak. They usually have good communication skills and believe in justice and they want things to be fair for everyone.

The article also says that when defenders help, the victims feel better. They feel less afraid and less alone. They feel that someone cares about them. This is very important for their mental health.

I think being a defender is very important, It is not easy, it takes courage to speak up. Many students are afraid that if they help, the bully will attack them too, but defenders show that it is possible to be strong and kind at the same time.

As a psychology student, I think we must learn how to support these defenders. We must understand why they do it and how to help more students become defenders. We can teach empathy, respect, and communication in class. We can also show students that asking for help is not weak, it is smart.

In the future, I want to work with children and teenagers. I want to help them feel safe and confident. This article showed me that small actions can make a big difference. Even one student saying “stop” can change the situation. That gives me hope. If more students become defenders, bullying will be less in our schools.


StopBullying.gov. (s.f.). Espectadores del acoso. Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de EE. UU. Recuperado el 5 de junio de 2025, de https://espanol.stopbullying.gov/prevención-mkgw/espectadores-del-acoso    

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