Direct Bullying and Cyberbullying: Experimental Study of Bystanders’ Motivation to Defend Victims and the Role of Anxiety and Identification With the Bully

Abstract

School bullying among young adolescents is a globally pervasive problem, but is less common when bystanders are motivated to defend victims. Thus, the focus of this experimental study is on motivation to defend victims of bullying.Methods: A total of 388 students (Mage = 12.22 years, 49.7% girls) from two Turkish public schools (5th–8th grade) participated in a vignette experiment. Students were randomized to one of two vignettes (direct vs. cyberbullying). Self-report measures of motivation to defend, trait anxiety, depression, and identification with the victim or bully were used.Results: Participants reported more autonomous motivation in the cyberbullying condition, while those who witnessed direct bullying reported higher anxiety and depression.Results also revealed that this type of condition was associated with anxiety and depression, while anxiety was associated with autonomous motivation to defend. Finally, participants in the direct bullying condition were more likely to identify with the bully.Conclusion: Findings advance our understanding of when and why adolescents are motivated to help victims of bullying because they give a richer picture of what they assess when deciding whether or not they should intervene.

Anti‐Bullying Interventions With an Emphasis on Bystanders: A Scoping Review

“…In this review, it was observed that there is a growing global scientific interest in anti-bullying interventions focused on bystanders. This may be due to the recognition of bullying as a group phenomenon [5][6][7]38 and the promising results that interventions targeting bystanders have achieved in reducing the problem. 8,9 However, most studies contained only universal strategies (13 investigations), whereas the ideal approach is to address multiple layers of prevention, including both universal, selective, and indicated actions.…”

“…In this review, it was observed that there is a growing global scientific interest in anti‐bullying interventions focused on bystanders. This may be due to the recognition of bullying as a group phenomenon 5‐7,38 and the promising results that interventions targeting bystanders have achieved in reducing the problem 8,9 …”

“…These individuals may, according to their attitudes toward aggression, reinforce it socially, aggravating the problem, or interrupt the cycle of violence 1 through the use of defending behaviors. 5,6 Furthermore, they are not restricted to direct interventions, which are carried out when bullying episodes are taking place (eg, tackling the bully). More indirect forms of support to the victim(s) (eg, telling someone what happened) are also considered by literature as defending behaviors.…”

“…In addition to perpetrators and victims, the bullying phenomenon also involves bystanders, who are the people who witness situations of violence between peers. These individuals may, according to their attitudes toward aggression, reinforce it socially, aggravating the problem, or interrupt the cycle of violence 1 through the use of defending behaviors 5,6 . Furthermore, they are not restricted to direct interventions, which are carried out when bullying episodes are taking place (eg, tackling the bully).…”

Cognition and gender differences in cyberbullying in China: an investigation of textual cues and sentimental clues

“…In the existing research, a common view is that social media has provided an easy way to anonymously and simultaneously permit the wide and rapid spread of harmful content, which is hospitable to cyberbullying (Brighi et al, 2019). Accordingly, cyberbullying may cause more serious consequences, such as anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide, than traditional bullying (Jungert et al, 2021). Due to the negative impacts, previous studies have shown many constructive insights into cyberbullying, for example, the use of technology, relations between perpetrators and targets, and the behavioural intentions of cyberbullying.…”