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Procedures for Dealing with Bullies

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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science
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Synonyms

Aggression; Dominance; Social sanctions; Strategies

Definition

Understanding and reducing the severity and frequency of aggressively dominant behavior.

Introduction

Bullying behavior is ubiquitous in human societies and appears to be a successful evolutionary strategy. However, the damage done by bullies in childhood can be severe. Along with a multitiered approach that involves the intervention of several adults, preventative measures should also encourage alternative prosocial strategies to achieve social goals.

Definition of Bullying

Bullying is a complex social behavior, loosely defined as the intentional use of physical and psychological force or power, threatened or actual, on a one-on-one or group basis against another person, group, or community that often results in injury, psychological harm, mal-development, deprivation, or even death (Krug et al. 2002). All bullying is aggression, but not all aggression is bullying (Hawley 1999). Bullying is a specific type of...

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Correspondence to Jason Grotuss .

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Grotuss, J., Beard, S.J. (2016). Procedures for Dealing with Bullies. In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2492-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2492-1

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