Concepts of bullying: developmental and cultural aspects.

This review considers the origins of the term bullying and historical changes in the definition of bullying, leading to contemporary research definitions in terms of agreed criteria. The paper next considers how we can assess the actual working definitions or criteria used by pupils, teachers, parents or others concerned with bullying; in different countries. Developmental changes in the understanding of bullying are reviewed and contrasted with developmental changes in bullying behavior. In the final section, cultural similarities and differences are reviewed. Again, two aspects are considered--the words used for bullying-related phenomena in different countries, their meaning, and the behavioral manifestations of bullying.