Malanginspirasi.com – A junior high school bullying case in Malang that went viral about a month ago has once again highlighted the growing severity of school violence in Indonesia.
This was stated by Lutfi Hidayati Fauziah, S.Psi., M.Si., a psychology lecturer at Universitas Merdeka (UNMER) Malang.
“Bullying remains a major issue in Malang. Cases keep emerging everywhere,” Lutfi said during an interview at Unmer’s Faculty of Psychology.
She explained that bullying among adolescents is closely linked to their developmental stage of identity formation. During junior and senior high school years, teenagers desperately seek recognition and attention from peers.
“Teens crave validation. Today, many form groups, but these often turn negative. One small mistake and they’re immediately targeted for bullying,” she added.
The recent Malang case began with a trivial misunderstanding over a romantic issue.
The victim, a student council member, was collecting money from a male classmate and casually called him “sayang” (darling). The term sparked jealousy from another female student who had feelings for the boy. The matter escalated after being shared within the group, eventually leading to physical violence.
Family Roles
Lutfi noted that such incidents are increasingly common due to distorted peer support systems and lack of emotional control, often rooted in dysfunctional family environments.
“Now it’s becoming ruthless. There’s no empathy, no compassion. They dare to hit, kick, pull hair. In the past it was just verbal teasing, but now it’s physical — and in extreme cases, even fatal,” she said with concern.
The long-term impact on victims can be devastating: chronic stress, anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, school refusal, and in the worst cases, suicidal thoughts.
Bullies are not unaffected either. After cases go viral, perpetrators often experience fear and guilt.
However, without proper intervention, they may become more aggressive or repeat the behavior.
Lutfi stressed that schools must play a proactive role in prevention.
“There should be an active Anti-Bullying Task Force with clear duties, regular patrols, and CCTV installation,” she urged.
Although the government has provided character-building modules and anti-bullying guidelines through the School Environment Introduction Period (MPLS), implementation depends heavily on the quality of school staff.
“The system exists, but it all comes down to human resources. When bullying occurs, the school’s reputation suffers too,” she said.
Parents, she emphasized, are equally crucial. Instilling love, self-confidence, behavioral boundaries, and emotional regulation from an early age can protect children from both becoming victims and perpetrators.
“If the home foundation is strong — filled with affection and confidence — children will be resilient outside and won’t seek validation from negative groups,” Lutfi explained.
Lutfi Hidayati concluded with a call to the public:
“We often see signs of violence but stay silent. Everyone has a role in ensuring cases like this don’t keep happening,” she stated.
