Early Adolescents’ Participation in Bullying: Is ToM Involved?

The present study investigated the role of theory of mind (ToM) skills in three forms of involvement in bullying: ringleader bullying, defending the victim(s), and victimization. Individual (affective empathy) and interpersonal variables (social preference and perceived popularity) were assumed to m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of early adolescence 2010-02, Vol.30 (1), p.138-170
Main Authors: Caravita, Simona C. S., Di Blasio, Paola, Salmivalli, Christina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bullying
Cognition & reasoning
Cognitive ability
Cognitive Processes
Early Adolescents
Elementary School Students
Empathy
Gender Differences
Grade 4
Grade 5
Interpersonal Competence
Interviews
Peer Acceptance
Peer Relationship
Peer relationships
Preadolescents
Psychological Patterns
Questionnaires
Social Influences
Social Status
Studies
Teenagers
Thinking Skills
Victims of Crime
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Summary:The present study investigated the role of theory of mind (ToM) skills in three forms of involvement in bullying: ringleader bullying, defending the victim(s), and victimization. Individual (affective empathy) and interpersonal variables (social preference and perceived popularity) were assumed to moderate the associations between ToM and the ways of being involved in bullying. Moderation effects by gender were also explored. Participants were 211 primary school pupils (average age = 10 years and 2 months, SD = 6 months), who took part in a ToM interview and filled in self- and peer-report questionnaires on empathy, social status, and involvement in bullying. ToM skills were positively linked to defending, and among boys this association was further strengthened by social preference. Practical implications include the need to focus on both peer relationships (i.e., status) and emotional characteristics (i.e., empathy) when trying to motivate youth with good cognitive skills to actively defend their victimized classmates.
ISSN:0272-4316
1552-5449
DOI:10.1177/0272431609342983