Unit 3 - Bullying Flashcards
Definition of bullying
An individual or group subjects another individual or group to repeated negative acts
Negative acts are…
Physical aggression
Verbal aggression
Social exclusion
Characteristics of bullying
Negative acts Repeated acts Intent to harm Bully has greater power Different types
Different types of bullying
Overt
Covert
Biological explanations of bullying
Genetics
Evolved gender differences
4 areas within genetics
Twin studies
Adoption studies
MAOA Gene
Dark triad
Reasons FOR the genetics explanation
63% concordance rate on mx and dz twins
Application - directed research
Reasons AGAINST the genetics explanation
Not 100% concordance rate
Diaries is stress may be better explanation
Did find MAOA link but only in those who had a serious life trauma
Reductionist
2 areas in evolved gender differences
Opportunities for reproduction
Establishes dominance
‘opportunities for reproduction’ involves…
Characteristics associated with bullying are attractive to the opposite sex
- Female strategy to reproduce is to attract males who provide protection and resources
Ie via bullying as shows dominance, strength & attractiveness
‘Establishing dominance’ involves….
Bullying allows person to establish self at top of social hierarchy by acquiring status that comes with dominance Adaptive strategies (risky for females to bully due to offspring) Over and covert (males engage in physical & females in verbal)
Reasons FOR evolved gender differences
Found more physically attractive girls were more likely targets if ‘indirect relational bullying’
Possible evolutionary basis to bullying behaviour
Application - help bullying individuals channel aggression to appropriate means
Reasons AGAINST evolved gender difference
Self report is unreliable due to social desirability
Focused on qualitative data, hard to establish accuracy
Reductionist
2 individual difference explanations of bullying
Narcissistic personality
Theory of mind
3 traits within narcissistic personality
Grandiosity
Arrogance
Lack of empathy
Why are narcissists likely to be bullies?
Heightened sense of superiority (enhanced ego)
Over sensitivity to criticism
Reasons FOR narcissistic personality
Research found positive correlation in narcissism and bullying
But only in males, females not seen to bully more than non-narcissists
Application- suggests benefits to employees being able to identify narcissistic characteristics
- CBT /Mods can help narcs realise negative feedback constructively
Reasons AGAINST narcissistic personality
Healthy narcissists can be assets in workplace - demanding not obsessed, proud not arrogant,
Narcissism only a factor when with other traits, research found bully’s also show machavellanism and psychopathy
Theory of mind involves….
Understanding internal mental states of others & we can interpret & predict behaviour
Superior TOM is shown by….
Ability to predict victims behaviour (experts at selecting victims) Act as a ringleader (manipulate others into carrying out your wishes) Strategic manipulation (adapt at using different types of bullying in different circumstances)
Reasons FOR theory of mind
Research found that victims of bullying had a low TOM score
Application - if TOM right, bullying intervention won’t work as unable to understand others pov
Reasons AGAINST theory of mind
Research shows bullies score higher than non-bullies on TOM
But only for verbal forms of bullying
Reductionist