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Adolescent Bullying, Dating, and Mating : Testing an Evolutionary Hypothesis.
Anthony A Volk1, Andrew V Dane2, Zopito A Marini1
1Department of Child and Youth Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada.
Summary
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.
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.
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