Bullying vs. Harassment: What’s the Difference?

Are you unsure whether it’s bullying or harassment? Learn how to identify each one, the effects they have on victims, and how to prevent further mistreatment.

Bullying and harassment are often discussed together, but they are distinct behaviors with different meanings, legal implications, and consequences. Though both can create toxic environments that lead to emotional distress, they are defined differently and require different approaches to address. Whether in schools, workplaces, or even online, understanding the difference between bullying and harassment is the key to creating safe and respectful environments for everyone. Here are the key differences between bullying and harassment, how they impact people, and the protection available to those affected.

What is bullying?

Generally, bullying is repeated, intentional mistreatment of a person or group, often aimed at establishing dominance or control over the target. It involves a power imbalance where the bully uses tactics like intimidation, humiliation, and exclusion to cause physical, verbal, or psychological harm. While bullying can take place anywhere, it is particularly harmful in environments such as schools, neighborhoods, or online, where children and teenagers are still developing emotionally and socially. 

In the long run, bullying can have lasting effects on a child’s mental health and academic performance, often leading to anxiety, depression, and a reluctance to attend school.

What is harassment?

Harassment, on the other hand, involves unwanted behavior directed at a person based on their identity, beliefs, or personal characteristics and creates a hostile or offensive environment, taking many forms, such as verbal, physical, and sexual harassment. Unlike bullying, harassment usually involves targeting a person because of a protected characteristic, like gender, race, sexual orientation, or disability, in a way that violates their civil rights.

Furthermore, harassment creates a hostile environment that leaves a person feeling unsafe or demeaned and can occur in many different environments, including schools, workplaces, public spaces, and online.  

The key differences between bullying and harassment

While both bullying and harassment involve harmful behavior that targets a person, the key difference lies in the nature of the mistreatment and its focus. Here are the two main differences between bullying and harassment.

1. Intent

Bullying is often driven by personal conflict as a desire to control or dominate a person or those around them. It typically includes intimidation, humiliation, or exclusion of another person. Bullying is not always based on any specific characteristic of the victim but is generally about power dynamics and personal vendettas. 

In contrast, harassment is driven by discriminatory intentions or behaviors, targeting someone based on their identity. The intention behind harassment is to demean, belittle, or ostracize a person of any marginalized group, such as those of a different race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Additionally, any discriminatory harassment is a violation of an anti-discrimination law and can come with legal consequences. 

2. Behavior 

Bullies can be subtle or overt but generally display repeated behavior, such as verbal bullying, physical bullying, or emotional bullying. The victim will often feel intimidated, excluded, or humiliated, and the effects on mental health can range from stress and low self-esteem to anxiety and depression. The behavior may or may not include a discriminatory element but generally focuses on the individual person as a target. 

In terms of harassment, particularly when it’s tied to discrimination or unwelcome conduct, it creates an environment that leaves the victim feeling threatened, unsafe, or demeaned. Harassment can also lead to a hostile work environment, which, in severe cases, might include workplace violence. Victims of harassment often experience profound emotional and psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Mental health effects from bullying and harassment 

Although they are different, both bullying and harassment can have an effect on mental health. Learn more here:

1. Anxiety and depression

The repeated mistreatment that comes with bullying, whether physical, verbal, or emotional, creates an environment of fear and insecurity in the victim. Over time, constant stress may lead to heightened anxiety, where people worry about being targeted again, and feelings of sadness or hopelessness that are characteristic of depression. The emotional toll can be overwhelming, making it difficult for victims to feel supported or confident enough to seek help.

Additionally, harassment, especially when persistent, can severely affect a person’s mental well-being. When someone is repeatedly subjected to unwanted attention, discrimination, or verbal abuse, it creates a constant state of fear and distress. This emotional strain can also cause heightened anxiety, as the victim anticipates further mistreatment, while also leading to depression as they feel powerless and trapped. 

2. Decreased self-esteem

In bullying, repeated negative treatment, whether through teasing, physical aggression, or emotional manipulation, undermines the victim’s sense of self-worth. Victims often begin to internalize the cruel messages they receive, believing they are unworthy, flawed, or less valuable than others. The longer the bullying continues, the more entrenched these negative self-beliefs can become, leading to a diminished sense of self-esteem and a struggle to see their own value.

Similarly, through verbal abuse, sexual harassment, or other forms of mistreatment, harassment can leave victims questioning their worth and feeling as though they are deserving of such treatment. This can lead to a loss of confidence, shame, and self-doubt, causing the victim to internalize negative beliefs about themselves. Over time, harassment can leave people feeling powerless and unworthy, making it difficult for them to maintain a healthy sense of self-esteem. 

3. Increased risk of self-harm or suicide

In severe cases, the constant emotional pain, isolation, and damage to self-esteem from bullying can make victims feel as though there is no way out. For some, self-harm might become a way to cope with the emotional turmoil, offering a temporary feeling of control or relief. In extreme cases, the feelings of hopelessness and despair created by prolonged bullying can lead to suicidal thoughts or actions, as victims may believe they are unworthy of love or that their pain will never end.

The emotional toll of discrimination, verbal abuse, or sexual harassment can also leave victims feeling helpless, rejected, and isolated. As the harassment continues, these feelings can intensify, causing some people to engage in self-harm as a way to manage their pain or to feel a temporary sense of control. Furthermore, the trauma from ongoing harassment can lead to suicidal ideation, particularly when victims feel trapped in their situation with no escape. 

If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts or are in danger of harming yourself, this is a mental health emergency. Contact The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7 by calling or texting 988.

Social and academic consequences 

In both schools and workplaces, bullying can hinder social interactions and impact performance, leading to a decline in academic performance, emotional distress, and a long-term impact on the victim’s self-esteem and overall well-being. In a school district, bullying can cause a student to avoid class, drop out of extracurricular activities, or withdraw from friendships. Similarly, workplace bullying can cause employees to isolate themselves, leading to unfair treatment, decreased productivity, and a lack of engagement with colleagues.

In environments where harassment occurs, whether it’s related to sexual misconduct, racial discrimination, or gender-based violence, it can create a hostile work environment or a hostile school environment where the victim feels unsafe or unsupported. This can lead to high turnover rates in companies or a lack of academic success in students who feel marginalized or discriminated against.

Protections against bullying vs. harassment 

There are laws protecting against bullying and harassment as follows: 

1. Anti-discrimination laws

Anti-bullying laws require a school administrator to intervene, investigate, and address bullying to ensure that those in any environment feel safe. Laws like the Civil Rights Act (in the U.S.) and similar anti-discrimination laws in other countries prohibit discriminatory harassment based on characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender. For example, workplace harassment or sexual harassment in work/school settings is illegal and can result in legal action if the behavior creates a hostile or intimidating environment.

2. Cyberbullying and online harassment

Cyberbullying is the use of digital platforms, such as social media, text messages, or online forums, to repeatedly intimidate or harm another person. In schools, many states have specific laws that require them to take action against cyberbullying by having police policies in place for investigating complaints, providing support for victims, and taking corrective measures against the perpetrators. The focus is ensuring students are safe not only in person but also in their online interactions within the school community.

Online harassment includes abusive conduct or discriminatory behavior conducted over digital platforms, often targeting people based on a protected characteristic like race, gender, or sexual orientation. In workplaces, the employment law, Title VII, protects employees from harassment by colleagues or employers, while some regions have passed additional laws to combat online or social media harassment more broadly, giving victims the ability to report and seek legal action for abusive online behavior. 

How to prevent bullying and harassment

Whether in schools, workplaces, or online environments, prevention and intervention are key to addressing bullying and harassment. Both individual people and organizations play a role in creating safe and respectful environments. Here are three of the best ways to prevent and address bullying and harassment.

1. Education and awareness

One of the most effective ways to prevent bullying is through education. Raising awareness about what constitutes bullying and how these behaviors can affect others is essential. Schools and workplaces can offer training sessions on recognizing and responding to negative behavior and unwelcome conduct, helping to create safer environments and more positive interactions.

Preventing harassment is also best achieved through education and awareness, by teaching people what constitutes harassment, whether based on race, gender, or other protected characteristics, schools and workplaces can help people recognize inappropriate behavior and its harmful effects. Training programs can equip people with the tools to respond to harassment, report incidents, and promote a culture of respect and inclusion.

2. Reporting mechanisms

To effectively address bullying, it’s essential to have clear procedures for reporting incidents. In schools, students should feel encouraged to report any form of bullying to school administrators or trusted staff members. Having accessible reporting channels ensures that incidents are addressed promptly and appropriately, while clear procedures also help protect students from retaliation and ensure their concerns are taken seriously. 

Addressing harassment in workplaces and schools requires clear reporting mechanisms. Employees should have access to HR departments or an employee assistance program (EAP) to report harassment confidentially and without fear of retaliation. In schools, students should know who to approach if they experience harassment by providing clear, safe reporting options to ensure that concerns are addressed effectively and that individuals feel supported in speaking out.

3. Support systems for victims

Victims of bullying often experience emotional and psychological distress, making support systems important for their recovery. Schools should provide access to mental health resources to help students cope with the trauma of bullying, as well as counseling services for more advanced care. In addition, peer support networks, whether formal or informal, can offer encouragement and help students regain confidence, providing a sense of community and understanding during the healing process. 

Harassment, however, often requires more intense support due to its harmful nature, especially if it involves physical abuse. Victims may need professional counseling or therapy to cope with the emotional impact the harassment leaves on them. Legal support may also be necessary to address the harassment and ensure that proper action is taken. 

How Charlie Health can help

If you or a loved one are struggling with a mental health disorder, Charlie Health is here to help. Charlie Health’s virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides more than once-weekly mental health treatment for dealing with serious mental health conditions. Our expert clinicians incorporate evidence-based therapies into individual counseling, family therapy, and group sessions. With treatment, managing your mental health is possible. Fill out the form below or give us a call to start healing today.