Relational bullying is a form of bullying that intentionally harms a person's relationships, social standing, and/or sense of belonging. Rather than using physical aggression, relational bullying focuses on damaging social connections and reputations.
Examples of relational bullying:
- Spreading rumors
- Excluding someone from a group or activity
- Embarrassing someone in public
- Telling others to reject or avoid a person
- Damaging a person's reputation
Is Relational Bullying a Crime?
Arizona does not have a specific criminal offense called "relational bullying." However, certain actions associated with relational bullying may violate state laws depending on the circumstances and severity of the conduct. Some examples include:
Harassment (A.R.S. § 13-2921)
Repeated conduct intended to harass, annoy, alarm, or humiliate another person.
Stalking (A.R.S. § 13-2923)
When repeated conduct causes a person to fear for their safety or suffer substantial emotional distress.
Threatening or Intimidating (A.R.S. § 13-1202)
Threats designed to frighten, control, or intimidate another person.
Defamation
Knowingly spreading false statements that damage a person's reputation may lead to a civil defamation claim.
Resources
Teens who need to talk about their problems with a teen who understands what they are going through can call Teen Lifeline 24/7 at (602) 248-TEEN (8336) or (800) 248-TEEN for free and confidential help.
Laws may have changed since the last time this article was updated. The current and most up-to-date laws can be accessed here.