Evolutionary Explanation of Bullying

• Bullying occurs because of a power imbalance, where a more powerful individual uses aggression deliberately and repeatedly against a weaker person.
• Researchers have traditionally viewed bullying as a maladaptive behaviour, for example, the result of poor social skills or abuse in childhood.
• However, our evolutionary ancestors may have used bullying as an adaptive strategy to increase chances of survival.
• For example, aggression helps animals acquire resources and look after themselves and their offspring/mates, which helps to create more opportunity for reproduction and passing on genes.
• Volk et al argued that the characteristics associated with bullying behaviour are attractive to the opposite sex. In males, it suggests dominance and that they can offer resources and protection to ward off rivals. Therefore, such aggression is adaptive.