What Are the Most Common Bully Behaviors?
Bullying doesn’t always come with name-calling or bruises. In fact, many bullies use subtle emotional tactics that go unnoticed—especially in adulthood. Whether it’s in the workplace, a relationship, or even within families, these behaviors are designed to control, manipulate, and isolate.
If you’ve experienced any of the following, it may be time to call it what it is: bullying.
7 Common Bullying Behaviors to Watch For:
- Gossip and Rumor-Spreading: They twist the truth, distort your character, and share private details to turn others against you.
- Blame-Shifting: No matter the conflict, they deflect responsibility and make you the villain in their narrative.
- Withholding Information: They “forget” to tell you important things to keep you out of the loop or make you look incompetent.
- Emotional Manipulation: They exploit your empathy, make you feel guilty, or play the victim when confronted.
- Public Humiliation (Disguised as Jokes): They use sarcasm or humor to insult you in front of others, then claim you’re too sensitive.
- Passive-Aggressive Silence: They give the cold shoulder, exclude you from group dynamics, or punish you with silence.
- Targeting Boundaries: They test or bulldoze your limits—because control, not connection, is their goal.
How These Behaviors Show Up in Adults
These behaviors are often overlooked because adult bullies hide behind professionalism, family ties, or friend groups. But that doesn’t make it any less real. In fact, covert bullying and emotional bullying thrive in environments where accountability is low and image is everything.
If any of these patterns feel familiar, you’re not overreacting. You’re recognizing abuse for what it is.
Explore Emotional Bullying »
Why Recognizing the Signs Matters
When left unaddressed, bullying leads to lasting damage—especially to your mental health. Many survivors experience anxiety, depression, or trauma responses that impact relationships and self-worth.
Visit our page on the Mental Health Impact of Bullying »
What You Can Do Next
If you’ve encountered these behaviors:
- Document what happened
- Set boundaries
- Seek support (from HR, a therapist, or advocacy group)
- Don’t minimize your experience
And most importantly: you are not alone.
Join us at The Echo Movement as we continue to raise awareness, share survivor stories, and create resources to end systemic bullying.
