Bullies who pick fights or spread nasty rumors are the “cool” kids in middle school, according to psychologists who surveyed seventh and eighth graders in Los Angeles, reports Live Science.
“The ones who are cool bully more, and the ones who bully more are seen as cool,” study researcher Jaana Juvonen, a UCLA professor of psychology, said in a statement.
The study is published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.
Anti-bullying campaigns should focus on persuading bystanders to show they disapprove of bullying, advised Juvenon.
Bullies often target unpopular children who are less likely to be defended by onlookers, notes Live Science.
Via Education News.
