ABSTRACT
Bullying is a recalcitrant public health problem in schools in the United States. Bullying and violence at school take several forms and erupt on a continuum of gravity. Serious acts of school violence are increasingly common and there is a rise in mass shootings. This chapter addresses some of the proximal and systemic causes and consequences of bullying as well as the connection to school violence. Who tends to be bullied is elucidated as well as some explanations and impetus behind bullying behaviour. Peer bullying at school and its effects have contributed to health and mental health issues for the nation's children. The subsequent consequences on victims, bullies, and bystanders are presented. Various definitions of school violence and bullying are currently in the process of evolving and are also discussed. Systems theory and social-ecological theory facilitate an understanding of bullying and violence in context. While adults wonder why school violence occurs, children and young adults have been talking about it and offering solutions for a very long time. Potential strategies for effecting change are included in the chapter.
