THE ARISING OF BULLYING IN BRAZILIAN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

When bullying is described and discussed by the media, there is a general association to the idea that it is a phenomenon of constant psychological and/or physical aggression against children and adolescents. However, bullying occurs in various social, economic and age groups, including young people in higher education institutions. In addition to this, the interactions between three segments, the academics, professors and university staff who live with and suffer because of bullying, regardless of their role at the place of work or study. This phenomenon has been identified in various educational and work institutions in several countries causing, in short, depression, social phobia, anxiety, loss of self-esteem, psychosomatic illnesses and other pathologies to the victims. Given the characterization of this problem, one must pay attention to the possible cases that conveniently, are not perceived due to the lack of tools for its diagnosis, and with it, implement educational policies to banish these exclusionary and discriminatory behaviors. This article highlights the key aspects of bullying, from its agents, environments where it occurs, to the problems caused by a lack of control due to the ignorance of this phenomenon.