Pnewsology

The week’s news with a dash of psychology!

Jane Ogden (Professor in Health Psychology, Emeritus; email janeogden509@gmail.com; based on a conversation with James Cannon at Radio Surrey; 8.40 am 23/01/2026)

Week ending 23/01/2025

All opinions are those of Jane Ogden

I hate bullies.  This week, news about bullies has been central to the international and local stage. 

As ever (it’s a long time until 2027!) Trump is everywhere and this week he has been bullying the whole world into letting him ‘Take Greenland’.  He has various reasons such as to protect it against Russia and China, because borders are just a recent thing or for its oil and minerals.  But he just wants it because he thinks he can.

Then Trump (again) has been accused of bullying the UK government about their ban on trophy hunting imports.  We ban them (bits of elephants, tigers, lions etc) but the US government want us to unban them as they ‘support conservation’ and are good the economy.  The US wants us to do what they want because it is just used to us doing just that.

Then we have also heard stories of bullying within families.

In Sussex, CAPA (Children against Parent Aggression) opened in 2020 and looks after parents who are struggling with their children.  One family described how their children come at them with scissors.  They are now at 40 referrals a year. How terrifying to feel bullied in your own home by your own children.

And we have also watched the high-profile stories of Prince Harry and the Beckhams being played out in the media.  Were Prince Harry and Meghan bullied by the press? and what on earth happened in the Beckham family to turn what always seemed a loving home into one of estrangement?

But one good news story – the Israeli government were threatening to demolish a small (10^th size) children’s football pitch for Palestinian children in the West Bank.  Apparently, it didn’t have the right permits and was a security threat?!  But due to publicity, a campaign and over half a million signatures, this has been postponed for the time being.  If only people power could also stop ethnic cleansing!

People become bullies for many reasons.  Some have also been bullied and have just learned that this is the way to behave.  Some are frightened of losing power and use this as a way to protect themselves.  Some are defensive, have fragile egos and so lash out as soon as they feel vulnerable.  Some have no empathy and are narcissists.  And some just do because nothing bad happens and the people around them let them.  Around every bully is a bunch of people saying nothing.

So how should we manage them?  We could ignore them, not give them the attention they crave and hope it all goes away.  We could feel sorry for them and see them as the sad people they are.  Or we could try to negotiate with them and appeal to their more rational side.  All this can work in the school playground, at home or even at work.  But on the world stage something more is needed.  Bullies think they have power and want to be feared.  We need to take what they see as their strength and make it their weakness.

First, we need to boost our own power and this comes from numbers.  Joining together, creating a team, a group, a union or anything is better than being alone.  There is always safety in numbers and bullies find size important. 

Then we speak out.  The notion of speaking truth to power if often attributed to George Orwell who said ‘In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act’.  This week Mark Carney gave an amazing speech about how Canada intends to stand up against Trump.

So we need to speak out.  But we also need to just laugh at them.  The British are great are ridiculing those in power whether it’s through sitcoms like ‘Yes, Minister’, the puppets in ‘Spitting image’, standup comedians or visual gags.  If I am ever in crowd facing Trump, I have a fantasy of getting everyone to fall about laughing.  Bullies want to feel their power, and they want to be feared.  Laughing makes US feel better AND make them realise we don’t fear them anymore.  

I hate bullies.  Let’s have a mass laughter fest at them and get the world back on track for being a nicer place to be.