Signs That You Were A Bully At School

1. You had behavioural problems

Image source/School News AustraliaCertain behaviours generally correlate with being a bully, aggressive and explosive behaviour is generally a good sign of having tendencies to be a bully. If as a child you were easily frustrated and bad tempered, there's a good chance you could have let out your aggression onto somebody else in a negative way.

2. You acted aggressively towards your siblings

Image source/HealthlineAnother strong sign of whether you was a bully at school was your relationship with your siblings. If you was violent and aggressive towards your sibling  growing up, there's a very good chance this behaviour would wear off onto your peers at school. So if you've grown up and have children now, make sure you monitor their behaviour around each other.

3. You lived in a violent home

Image source/MomtasticIf as a child, you were a victim of domestic abuse or lived in a violent household, then this could have been a sign you were a bully. Living in a violent environment promotes violence in children, and frustration tends to build up in kids living in violent homes. This frustration is usually taken out on the only people possible, and it's typically their peers in school.

4. You spent a lot of time online

Image source/GreatSchoolsThis point probably doesn't apply to the older generation reading this, but those of you that grew up while Snapchat and Instagram was on the rise may have been showing signs of a bully. Cyberbullying is on the increase and has been for years, so if you was one of them kids that was never off your phone, you could have been spending too much time sending abusive messages to your peers.

5. You didn't show empathy at school

Image source/Positive Parenting SolutionsEmpathy is a natural emotion that we all should in some way or another feel. If as a kid you didn't show empathy to other children being bullied, this is a pretty good sign you could have been a bully yourself. Seeing another kid upset should make you feel some sort of emotion, if you didn't feel any sympathy then maybe you were the bully!

6. You hanged around with the popular kids

Image source/HelloGigglesWere you a part of the popular gang at school? If so this is a sign you were a bully. The popular kids at every school were always seen as above the rest, or at least that's what they thought, and typically picked on the smaller, weaker kids. More often than not, the popular kids at school would pick on kids for no other reason than a childish, sadistic enjoyment.

7. You had previously experienced bullying

Image source/iPleadersIt's not rare, in fact its actually quite common for a victim of bullying to become a bully themselves. Children who have previously been a target for bullies, will then become bullies in an effort to regain some control over their lives. This isn't the situation in every bullying case, but it is the sad reality of childhood.

8. You were spoilt as a kid

Image source/All Pro DadBeing spoilt as a kid and getting whatever you wanted whenever you wanted, probably made you a bully at times. If you always had the latest gadgets, or the coolest, newest toy, you could always find a way to make fun of somebody who couldn't afford it at the time. Kids brought up spoilt tend to be bullies in school.

9. You had a need for control and dominance

Image source/Verywell FamilyBullies typically like to feel in control of people and be able to dominate others. As a kid, if you were the one forcing others to play with you, or if you would make others do tasks which you yourself didn't want to, you were probably the bully.  Even as adults, the people who like to think they are in charge and control others typically are bullies.

10. You positively viewed violence

Image source/Counter Culture MomGrowing up did you see violence as a positive thing or a negative thing? Those of you who saw it as a positive thing, well unfortunately that is a sign you use to be a bully. Violence isn't always wrong, sometimes we have to be violent to protect ourselves, but seeing it as something good isn't particularly a good sign.

11. You were overly competitive

Image source/CHILD & FAMILY THERAPY CABeing competitive as a child isn't necessarily a bad thing, wanting to be better than your peers is a trait you will need in life in order to be successful. But being overly competitive to the point where you would insult or harm others that let you down is a strong sign you could have been a bully.

12. You were good at talking your way out of things

Image source/CNNAs you might have figured out already, bullies are good at manipulating people and getting out of trouble. A sign that you could have been a bully growing up was your ability to get out of trouble. Bullies typically play things down, and know what to say to make people think they're in the wrong, when it is themselves who's at fault.

13. You always blamed others for your actions

Image source/Verywell FamilyIf as a child you would always blame others for your mistakes, chances are you were a bully! The type of kids who would blame things on others did so because they felt they wouldn't do anything in return, and that somebody else could take the hit for them - this is what a bully would do.

14. You had friends who bullied

Image source/Today's ParentAs a kid you pick up traits from the kids you hang around with. Being in a friend group who use to bully people, you would have been pretty easily peer pressured into picking on the other kids. Whether you thought it was right or wrong, being associated with these kids made you a bully!

15. You cared too much about your reputation

Image source/Daily MailHow much did you care about your reputation as a child? Was it something you spent every minute of every day worrying about? If so, there is a high chance that you were a bully. Bullies typically are very insecure and self-conscious about there reputation and how others see them, hence why they do so much about it.

16. You liked to push boundaries

Image source/ParentsBullies like to test the limits and push boundaries. The sign that you had been a bully as a child is always wanting to test new limits. You would hurt somebody or insult somebody just enough so that you could get away with it or they wouldn't speak up about it.

17. You use to put people down

Image source/SciencenorwayIf you noticed as a kid you had a tendency to put others down while building yourself up, then you likely a bully. Low self-esteem and anxiety can cause bullies to put others down to make themselves feel better, they point out flaws and insult others to feel some kind of kick.

18. You didn't receive any discipline for your actions

Image source/CrosswalkKids that are never taught right from wrong will not surprisingly show signs of being bullies. Bullies, as you probably know, like to get away with things.  If they are not being disciplined properly, nothing is going to stop them from carrying on. So if you weren't disciplined properly as a child, then you probably showed signs of being a bully.

19. You were intolerant to kids that were different

Image source/Family LiveBullies typical can't tolerate people that are different to themselves, whether it's somebody's diversity, gender, disability, etc. In an attempt to exert some sort of control they typically name called or sent insulting messages via social media. Not being able to tolerate different people as a kid is a good sign you were a bully.

20. You had difficulty sleeping

Image source/SleepopolisIt may seem outrageous, but a study by the University of Michigan revealed children who showed aggressive or bullying behaviour were twice as likely to show sleep-disordered breathing problems. This doesn't suggest however that bullying causes these problems, but if you struggled with this as a kid you may have been a bully.

21. You had to have your own way

Image source/KinderCareWith almost all bullies, it's their way or the highway! If when you were at school, you hated not having your own way and always wanted to do things how you wanted, chances are you showed signs of being a bully. A typical bully struggles with not getting what they want when they want.

22. You perceived normal behaviour as being hostile

Image source/Creative Child MagazineA good sign that as a child you would bully people was the way you perceived other peoples behaviour. Bullies typically would perceive fairly normal behaviour as being aggressive and hostile towards them, hence resulting in them acting maliciously and aggressively.

23. You struggled in certain social situations

Image source/Verywell FamilySome times bullies can do the things they do because they can't handle being in certain social situations. They may want attention of other people but don't know the best way to achieve it, tis often results on them putting others down or insulting others. Being a socially awkward kid could have meant you were a bully!

24. You liked to spread rumours

Image source/Verywell FamilyBullies love to spread rumours. So if in school you had a reputation for spreading malicious rumours about everyone, then there's a very high chance you were a bully. Bad rumours can make people's life a living hell, costing them their professionalism and even potential job opportunities.

25. You misused your positions of power

Image source/Psychology TodayA good sign that as a kid you use to be a bully was how you used your roles of power. For example, if a bully was in charge of a group task, they would use their position of power to intentionally block others from succeeding, whereas those who aren't bullies would make sure everyone would have a fair shot at being successful.

26. You were the best at sport

Image source/HealthlineThe kids who use to be bullies were typically the ones best at their sport. The default American bully in movies was always the best at football, or the fastest. Being the best at what you do probably made it easier to pick on others, so if you were the best at your sport in school chances are you could have been a bully.

27. You would take other peoples lunch money

Image source/The Stanford FlipsideYou probably think this is an obvious sign of bullying, or perhaps you use to do it but didn't know it was wrong. Either way, if you were that kid that always took other kids lunch money, we hate to break it to you but you were a bully. Most of time the bully would pick on a smaller, weaker kid which couldn't say no to giving him their money.

28. You had good social information processing abilities

Image source/Region 13 BlogBullies are usually dubbed with having a low IQ, however this isn't always the case at all. Some researchers have found that bullies typically scored high in their social information processing abilities. This is what typically would make them good at picking out easy targets and kids with low self-esteem.

29. Your parents were bad role models

Image source/FirstCry ParentingYour parents didn't necessarily have to be abusive or violent towards you, but just their behaviour and opinions could have influenced you to become a bully. If let's say your mum or dad would take about how they hated a certain kind of person, it would no doubt have rubbed off onto you, and then you go on to hate that kind of person.

30. You had a relationship too young

Image source/Metro ParentBeing in a relationship at a young age in school probably made you feel untouchable. If you were in a relationship at school you were probably one of the more looked upon kids and it may have given you a feeling of superiority, hence potentially making you a bully.