My thanks to CSD elementary school for this helpful checklist. I didn't realize it would come in so handy navigating the internet too.
“Warning Signs of a Bully” Checklist
____ 1. Enjoys feeling powerful and in control
____ 2. Seeks to dominate and/or manipulate peers
____ 3. May be popular with other students, who envy his or her power
____ 4. Is physically larger and stronger than his or her peers
____ 5. Is impulsive
____ 6. Loves to win at everything; hates to lose at anything. Is both a poor winner (boastful, arrogant) and a poor loser
____ 7. Seems to derive satisfaction or pleasure from other’s fear, discomfort, or pain
____ 8. Seems overly concerned with others “disrespecting” him or her; equates “respect” with fear
____ 9. Seems to have little or no empathy for others
____ 10. Seems to have little or no compassion for others
____ 11. Seems unable or unwilling to see things from another person’s perspective or “walk in someone else’s shoes”
____ 12. Seems willing to sue and abuse other people to get what he or she wants
____ 13. Defends his or her negative actions by insisting that others “deserved it, asked for it, or provoked” him or her; a conflict is always someone else’s fault
____ 14. Gets excited when conflicts arise between others
____ 15. Stays cool during conflicts in which he or she is directly involved
____ 16. Exhibits little or no emotion (flat affect) when talking about his or her part in a conflict
____ 17. Blames other people for his or her problems
____ 18. Refuses to accept responsibility for his or her negative behaviors
____ 19. Shows little or no remorse for his or her negative behaviors
____ 20. Lies in an attempt to stay out of trouble
____ 21. Expects to be “misunderstood, disrespected, and picked on;” attacks before he or she can be attacked
____ 22. Interprets ambiguous or innocent acts as purposeful and hostile; uses these as excuses to strike out at others verbally or physically
____ 23. “Tests” your authority by committing minor infractions, then waits to see what you’ll do about it
____ 24. Disregards or breaks rules
____ 25. Is generally defiant or oppositional toward adults
____ 26. Seeks/craves attention; seems just as satisfied with negative attention as positive attention
____ 27. Attracts more than the usual amount of negative attention from others; is yelled at or disciplined more often than other student
____ 28. Seems mainly concerned with his or her own pleasure and well-being
____ 29. Has a close network of a few friends (actually “henchmen” or “lieutenants”), who follow along with
whatever he or she wants to do
