Can Psychopathic Traits Predict Different Roles in Bullying: Perpetration or Victimization

Abstract: Bullying and being a victim of bullying have serious consequences for adolescents. Why do adolescents bully others and why do some become victims, could it be because of their personalities or maybe even problematic personality traits. In the current study, we will investigate if psychopathy or if any of the   dimensions of psychopathy separately, can predict engagement in bullying or being a victim of bullying. The data that is used in this study is taken from a community sample from 7th through 8th grade. The results in this study show that psychopathy as an entirety and the interpersonal and behavioral dimension of psychopathy do in fact predict some levels of engagement in bullying, while the affective dimension did not. Psychopathy and the different dimensions did not significantly predict becoming a victim of bullying. In conclusion, traits like impulsivity and grandiosity can to some extent predict engagement in bullying, however psychopathy nor the dimension do not predict being a victim of bullying.