The term bullying describes a behavior as old as human society itself: the assertion of dominance through aggression, ridicule, or exclusion. The word emerged in the 18th century, derived from “bull,” evoking brute strength and intimidation, yet early uses also implied affection or camaraderie—showing how complex the concept has always been. Over time, “bullying” evolved to define repeated, intentional harm—verbal, physical, or psychological—directed at someone perceived as weaker. In the 20th century, researchers like Dan Olweus in Norway began formalizing the study of bullying, identifying its patterns in schools and linking it to long-term mental health effects. The rise of the internet in the early 2000s expanded the phenomenon into cyberbullying, where the boundaries of time and space dissolved, making harassment more persistent and anonymous. The debate around whether bullying is a “natural” process in youth development emerges from the tension between biology and morality. Historically, societies often viewed rough peer interactions as “character-building,” especially among boys, equating hardship with resilience. Yet, modern psychology questions whether suffering is necessary for growth or merely normalized cruelty. Today, the discussion invites reflection on what it means to mature—whether empathy and inclusion can replace domination as rites of passage, and if humanity can evolve beyond the behaviors it once justified as natural.