Bullying as a Socially Dangerous Act: Statistical Analysis and Proposals for the Criminalization of Bullying

Abstract

The article is focused on the analysis of criminological problems in relation to the conditions and causes of bullying, as well as the victimological component of this anti-social phenomenon. The age and characteristics of victims who suffer from bullying are analyzed. How the environment and family upbringing affect the further behavior of the bully and the victim. The types of bullers, witnesses to bullying, and places where bullying occurs were examined. Further consideration was aimed at the analysis of the socially dangerous act from different sides (from teachers and children). On the basis of the conducted questionnaire survey that took place among teachers of secondary educational institutions and directly among students of secondary educational institutions and students of higher educational establishments who are under 18 years old, amendments to the criminal legislation of Ukraine are proposed.