Unit 3 - Bullying

Question 1

Definition of bullying

Answer 1

An individual or group subjects another individual or group to repeated negative acts

Question 2

Negative acts are…

Answer 2

Physical aggression
Verbal aggression
Social exclusion

Question 3

Characteristics of bullying

Answer 3

Negative acts
Repeated acts
Intent to harm
Bully has greater power
Different types

Question 4

Different types of bullying

Answer 4

Overt

Covert

Question 5

Biological explanations of bullying

Answer 5

Genetics

Evolved gender differences

Question 6

4 areas within genetics

Answer 6

Twin studies
Adoption studies
MAOA Gene
Dark triad

Question 7

Reasons FOR the genetics explanation

Answer 7

63% concordance rate on mx and dz twins

Application - directed research

Question 8

Reasons AGAINST the genetics explanation

Answer 8

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

Question 9

2 areas in evolved gender differences

Answer 9

Opportunities for reproduction

Establishes dominance

Question 10

‘opportunities for reproduction’ involves…

Answer 10

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

Question 11

‘Establishing dominance’ involves….

Answer 11

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)

Question 12

Reasons FOR evolved gender differences

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Reasons AGAINST evolved gender difference

Answer 13

Self report is unreliable due to social desirability
Focused on qualitative data, hard to establish accuracy
Reductionist

Question 14

2 individual difference explanations of bullying

Answer 14

Narcissistic personality

Theory of mind

Question 15

3 traits within narcissistic personality

Answer 15

Grandiosity
Arrogance
Lack of empathy

Question 16

Why are narcissists likely to be bullies?

Answer 16

Heightened sense of superiority (enhanced ego)

Over sensitivity to criticism

Question 17

Reasons FOR narcissistic personality

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Reasons AGAINST narcissistic personality

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Theory of mind involves….

Answer 19

Understanding internal mental states of others & we can interpret & predict behaviour

Question 20

Superior TOM is shown by….

Answer 20

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)

Question 21

Reasons FOR theory of mind

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Reasons AGAINST theory of mind

Answer 22

Research shows bullies score higher than non-bullies on TOM
But only for verbal forms of bullying
Reductionist