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Bullying

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Models of Psychopathology

Abstract

Chapter 5 addresses the issue of bullying from a relational perspective: hypothesizing that bullying involves a pathologic triangle, constituted by three intrinsically and simultaneously connected roles (i.e., victim, rescuer, and persecutor), which repeat from one relationship to another and from one generation to another. Chapter 5 outlines how bullying behavior may be better understood as a dysfunctional interaction, in relationship with others and self (e.g., deadly drama triangle), whose dynamics are defined by three positions of victimhood. Empirical investigations on bullying that explore dysfunctional and pathological triadic relational processes are reviewed. Finally, ideas for sensitive and effective interventions at multiple contextual levels that foster or restore emotional and physical well-being following bullying are proffered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Studies in Psychology Research Methodology, and Counseling, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

    Lisa M. Hooper

  2. Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Luciano L’Abate

  3. Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA

    Laura G. Sweeney

  4. Department of Applied Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Giovanna Gianesini

  5. Department of Psychology, Bethel University, St Paul, MN, USA

    Peter J. Jankowski

Authors
  1. Lisa M. Hooper
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  2. Luciano L’Abate
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  3. Laura G. Sweeney
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  4. Giovanna Gianesini
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  5. Peter J. Jankowski
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Hooper, L.M., L’Abate, L., Sweeney, L.G., Gianesini, G., Jankowski, P.J. (2014). Bullying. In: Models of Psychopathology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8081-5_5

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