Strengthening the Victim

Below is an example of how the target may learn to respond, without making matters worse and actually discouraging the verbal bully who is clearly failing to get a rise out of what happens.

When the bully makes a statement look the bully in the eye and give your
response calmly, nonchalantly, without any hostility,

Bully: You have a great big nose

Target: True, it is large

Bully: It looks like a beak

Target: True, it does stand out

Bully: You are the ugliest kid in the school

Target: That’s your opinion…

Now discuss with the ‘target’ how you felt (as a bully) on hearing the target’s responses. Also discuss the conditions under which you think this approach might work, or not work.

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