Which of the following is a reason bullying takes place, as identified in the material?

• A. They see target as threat
• B. They hate themselves
• C. They want to be the target
• D. They were instructed to bully

Answer: (B)

Bullying often stems from the bully’s own insecurity and negative feelings about themselves. When someone feels ashamed, powerless, or unworthy, they may lash out at others to feel in control, gain status, or quickly boost their self-esteem, even if only temporarily. This explains why a stated reason is that the bully hates themselves—the behavior is a misguided attempt to cope with inner struggles by putting others down.

The other possibilities don’t fit as well because they don’t capture the underlying drive. Seeing a target as a threat can trigger aggression, but the core motivator is the bully’s internal conflict and need to feel powerful. Wanting to be the target is inconsistent with the aim of bullying, which is to harm or dominate someone else. Being instructed to bully can occur in some contexts, but the material identifies the internal insecurity as the main driver rather than external orders.

Understanding this helps in addressing bullying by focusing on the bully’s feelings and providing support, resilience-building, and healthy ways to cope with insecurity, rather than only punishing the behavior.