One of the best responses to bullying behavior is to ...

• A. Punish the bully harshly
• B. Teaching social skills
• C. Isolate the target
• D. Increase surveillance only after incidents

Answer: (B)

Teaching social skills equips students with practical tools to interact respectfully, resolve conflicts, and support peers, which directly reduces bullying behavior. When students practice empathy, perspective-taking, and effective communication, they learn how to stand up for themselves and others in constructive ways, and bystanders can intervene more confidently. This proactive approach targets the underlying social dynamics that fuel bullying, helping both the person who bullies and the target.

Harsh punishment can deter behavior temporarily but often fails to teach what to do instead and can damage relationships or push the bully to act out in different ways. Isolating the target harms the person being bullied and misses an opportunity to improve the overall climate. Increasing surveillance after incidents is reactive and won’t prevent initial bullying or build the skills students need to handle situations autonomously.