TAUNTING Taunting is a choice to bully someone for whom you have contempt. There is no intent of playfulness, even if the bully says, I was just teasing, or joking. Taunting is intended to isolate the target, to hurt, and words used are demeaning
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ABHISHEK VAISHNAV
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Abhishek M. Viaishnav
Taunting is a non-physical form of abuse that involves making a mockery of someone based on who they are or something that they may or may not have done. It also entails jeering at or provoking someone to the point of them having an immediate negative reaction.
Taunting is a textbook tactic for bullies. It cannot be disguised under playful behaviour or a litmus test to examine someone’s sense of humour. It is damaging to psychological wellbeing and cannot be folded under ‘light teasing’ – it is a cruel tactic and its only purpose is to only harm someone else.
Taunting is a choice to subject someone to emotional and mental violence out of contempt and disrespect. It is demeaning and it is a one-sided action. There is no guarantee that one will be able to defend themselves against people who are taunting them. Taunting is a display of power to grant oneself a superior position in whatever space that they are in. It is also a tactic to control someone’s behaviour by wearing them out.
Direct, provocative commentary to hurt people can be disguised as light-hearted joking. Except, there’s nothing funny about it. When it comes to a competitive arena such as sports and workplace goal fulfilment, taunting has been normalised as a ‘part of competition’. Taunting will not motivate our colleagues or team members to do better. They will be alienated.
Some examples of taunting are:
making disparaging comments about someone, especially their appearance and work.
jeering at someone till the point of provoking them into a volatile action. E.g. – a sudden action of physical violence.
demotivating someone to the point of affecting their willpower.
rubbing your good fortune in someone else’s face – someone not as fortunate as you are.
mocking someone by doing a crude imitation of them.
grouping up with people to make fun of and alienate someone else.
