Criminologist: Bullying In School Has Become Systematic Violence

ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Criminologist Haniva Hasna assessed that the recent series of bullying cases showed that bullying in schools had developed into a form of systemic violence and was no longer just juvenile delinquency.

Haniva said this phenomenon was a sign of weakening social control in the educational environment.

"Bullying is no longer a matter of ridicule. This has become violence that causes long-term psychological wounds and can trigger extreme countermeasures," said Haniva to VOI, Monday, November 17, 2025.

Haniva explained, from a criminological perspective, this situation illustrates the occurrence of social disorganization, namely when norms are not enforced, rules are relaxed, and supervision of teachers and the school community weakens. This condition, he said, provides space for violence to grow.

According to Haniva, there are four main factors that trigger bullying, one of which is invisible bullying or relational bullying which teachers and parents often do not realize. This form includes social exclusion, silent treatment in groups, friendship manipulation, and reputation destruction.

This is the kind of bullying that is the quietest but the most painful. There are no bruises, but the victim suffered deep emotional damage. In criminology, this is called invisible victimization," he said.

He added that bullying victims generally experience a decline in social function, anxiety, depression, and learning helplessness before cases develop fatally. In certain cases, extreme pressure can even trigger the emergence of malicious retaliatory impulses.

Haniva emphasized the need for schools to implement an early detection system, clear SOPs for handling bullying, as well as supervision of vulnerable points such as corridors, toilets, and areas that are not monitored. Teachers are also required to be provided with training to read the initial signs of bullying.

Schools can be considered negligent if they fail to create a safe environment, ignore reports, or do not have SOPs. Schools are guardians for students. If the guardian is absent, then crime will occur," he said.

Haniva also said that the culture of violence was still strong in a number of schools, marked by the normalization of ridicule, seniority, and group pressure. He called it a subculture of violence, namely when violence was used as a social norm among students.

To ensure victims feel safe, Haniva encouraged schools to implement Psychological First Aid (PFA) in the first 24 to 72 hours after the incident, ranging from ensuring the safety of victims, calming their emotional condition, to connecting victims with trusted adults.

"The victim should not be forced to tell stories. Many children experience shutdown due to trauma. The approach must be gentle and not judge," he said.

He emphasized the need for long-term commitments from schools, governments, teachers, and parents to build a consistent anti-violent culture.

This is not a one-day job. Changing the culture of violence requires sustainability," said Haniva.