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Adolescent Bullying, Dating, and Mating : Testing an Evolutionary Hypothesis.

Anthony A Volk1, Andrew V Dane2, Zopito A Marini1

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Evolutionary Psychology : an International Journal of Evolutionary Approaches to Psychology and Behavior
|November 4, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bullying perpetration may offer evolutionary advantages, providing increased dating and sexual opportunities for adolescents. This study suggests bullying, not victimization, correlates with greater mating success.

Keywords:
bullyingdatingevolutionsexsexual behavior

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary psychology
  • Adolescent behavior
  • Social dynamics

Background:

  • Bullying perpetration was traditionally viewed as maladaptive.
  • Emerging perspectives suggest bullying may be an adaptive behavior with evolutionary benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if bullying behavior in adolescents is linked to increased dating and mating opportunities.
  • To test the hypothesis that bullying, as an adaptive trait, enhances sexual success.

Main Methods:

  • Two independent samples of 334 adolescents and 144 university students were surveyed.
  • Data collected included self-reports on bullying, victimization, dating frequency, sexual behavior, attractiveness, likeability, and peer victimization.
  • Statistical analyses were performed to assess the relationship between bullying and mating opportunities, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

  • Bullying behavior, but not victimization, partially predicted dating behavior.
  • Bullying behavior significantly predicted increased sexual opportunities, even after controlling for age, sex, attractiveness, likeability, and peer victimization.
  • Findings suggest a positive correlation between bullying and sexual success in adolescents.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides evidence supporting the hypothesis that bullying perpetration can be an evolutionarily adaptive behavior.
  • Increased sexual opportunities may represent a key evolutionary benefit for individuals engaging in bullying.
  • These findings challenge traditional views of bullying as solely maladaptive.