Society researcher Salam Haji Taher told "Dama": dealing with bullying begins with understanding the nature of offensive behavior and adopting methods that preserve dignity.
Society researcher Salam Haji Taher explained in an interview with the Dumma News Network that dealing with bullying begins with understanding the nature of abusive behavior, and separating the actions of others from human value, while adopting practical methods that preserve personal dignity and prevent the continuation of abuse.
Taher said bullying is often related to a power imbalance in human relationships, where one party tries to impose control through insults, ridicule, exclusion or threats. She emphasized that psychological protection begins with the understanding that the bully's actions do not reflect the value of the target, but rather the abuser's desire to control or attract attention.
She emphasized the importance of separating insult from the individual's self-image, and not allowing abuse to determine self-esteem, focusing on achievements and healthy relationships, avoiding isolation and acknowledging emotions such as anger and sadness without treating them as weakness.
The researcher showed that setting personal boundaries reflects self-respect and requires clarity and consistency far from aggression, and noted that "firm communication" and a calm expression with a confident tone and balanced body language represent an effective method, with the necessity of taking practical steps such as stopping the dialogue, reducing friction or addressing the responsible authorities.
She noted that ignoring or withdrawing is appropriate for transient provocations unrelated to an ongoing relationship, while confrontation or reporting becomes an unavoidable necessity if the behavior becomes repeated abuse or public humiliation, or if it involves threat, assault, blackmail or defamation, with personal safety being the top priority.
Taher emphasized that dealing with repeated bullying requires a clear plan that goes beyond momentary reactions to avoid psychological exhaustion, proposing the "gray rock" strategy by reducing interaction and being content with short and neutral responses, noting that it is not a substitute for reporting in serious cases.
She called for documenting cases of repeated bullying through letters, dates and names of witnesses, especially in schools, workplaces and electronic platforms to facilitate accountability, and urged building a social support network of family members, trusted friends and competent authorities without confronting the problem individually.