Birds of a feather bully together: Group processes and children's responses to bullying

Citation

Jones SE, Manstead ASR & Livingstone AG (2009) Birds of a feather bully together: Group processes and children's responses to bullying. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 27 (4), pp. 853-873. https://doi.org/10.1348/026151008X390267

Abstract
Recent research has shown that a group-level analysis can inform our understanding of school bullying. The present research drew on social identity theory and intergroup emotion theory. Nine- to eleven-year olds were randomly assigned to the same group as story characters who were described as engaging in bullying, as being bullied, or as neither engaging in bullying nor being bullied. Participants read a story in which a bully, supported by his or her group, was described as acting unkindly towards a child in a different group. Gender of protagonists and the bully's group norm (to be kind or unkind to other children) were varied. Identification affected responses to the bullying incident, such that those who identified more highly with each group favoured this group. Moreover, children's group membership predicted the group-based emotions they reported, together with the associated action tendencies. Implications for understanding the processes underlying bullying behaviour are discussed.

Journal
British Journal of Developmental Psychology: Volume 27, Issue 4