In addition to looking for the general characteristics that are typical of bullying victims, adults should also tune in to the following more specific signs that a student is being harassed:

Primary

• Leaves school with torn or disordered clothing and/or damaged books

• Has bruises, injuries, cuts, and scratches that are not easily explained

Secondary

• Does not bring classmates or other peers home after school and seldom spends time in the homes or playgrounds of classmates

• May not have a single good friend to share free time with (play, shopping, sports and musical events, chatting on the phone, etc.)

• Is seldom or never invited to parties and may not be interested in arranging parties (because they expect nobody wants to come)

• Appears afraid or reluctant to go to school in the morning, has poor appetite, repeated headaches, or stomach pains (particularly in the morning)

• Does not participate in extracurricular activities such as school clubs

• Chooses an "illogical" route for going to and from school

• Has restless sleep (e.g., bad dreams, crying)

• Loses interest in school work and gets lower grades

• Appears unhappy, sad, depressed, or shows unexpected mood shifts with irritability and sudden outbursts of temper

• Requests or steals extra money from family (to accommodate the demands of bullies)

Adapted from: Olweus, D. (1994). Bullying at School: What We Know and What We Can Do. Williston, VT: Blackwell Publishers. Available on-line at: www.powerofonefoundation.org/
Guide%20for%20the%20Identification%20of.htm.