BULLYING AS DEVIANT BEHAVIOR
Deviance acts as a violation of social norms characterized as "any thought, feeling or action that members of a social group judge to be a violation of their values or rules".1 Social norms are viewed as the actions or behaviors and cues within a society or group. This sociological term has been defined as "the rules that a group uses for appropriate and inappropriate values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors.”2 It indicates the established and approved ways of doing things, of dress, of speech and of appearance. Social norm is also described as the "customary rules of behavior that coordinate our interactions with others."3 These rules may be explicit or implicit. They are often incorporated in the law and …show more content…

Cyber bullying includes abuse by sending negative text on email, blog, instant messaging, cell phones, or websites; and posting message text, photo or captions or video links of insults about a person on Facebook, Twitter and other sites. The direct and indirect forms of bullying often occur together and all of these behaviors can be interrelated.
Negative Effects of Bullying Behavior
People who are bullied find their schoolwork and health suffering. Studies show that people who are abused by their peers are at risk for mental health problems, such as low self-esteem, stress, depression or anxiety. The following research study shows the negative effects of bullying to students academic performance:
It encourages dropping out of school. Ten percent of dropouts do so because of repeated bullying (Weinhold &Weinhold, 1998).8
It contributes to poor school attendance. According to the National Association of School Psychologists, 160,000 students per day stay home from school because of bullying (Fried & Fried, 2003). 9
Seven percent of eighth graders stay home at least once a month because of bullies (Banks, 2000).10
Twenty-five percent of girls grades 8 to 12 don’t want to attend school and stay home or skip classes because of sexual bullying (American Association of University Women, 1993)11
It has a negative impact on student morale and learning and achievement. Fourteen percent of