Defensive egotism and self-esteem: A cross-cultural examination of the dynamics of bullying in middle school*. Issue 3 (4th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Simon, Joan B.; Nail, Paul R.; Swindle, Taren; Bihm, Elson M.; Joshi, Keyoor
• Is Part Of: Self and identity. Volume 16:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 270
• Page End: 297
• Publication Date: 2017-05-04
• Subjects: Defensive egotism -- self-esteem -- bullying -- compensation model of aggression -- bully-victims; Self -- Periodicals; Identity (Psychology) -- Periodicals; Cognition -- Periodicals; Motivation (Psychology) -- Periodicals; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1080/15298868.2016.1232660
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1529-8868

Abstract

Abstract: The revised compensation model of aggression posits that bullying is driven by defensive personality, not low self-esteem. Supporting research has failed to distinguish bullies vs. bully-victims (i.e., bullies who are also victims). In three studies with middle school students on two continents, pure bullies and bully-victims scored higher in defensive egotism than pure victims and controls but, unexpectedly, did not differ from each other. Low self-esteem was linked with victimization, high self-esteem with defending victims. Boys were higher than girls in bullying and physical aggression; girls were higher in social than physical aggression. Part of the lack of success of anti-bullying programs may be their failure to accommodate different types of bullies and different forms of bullying.