(Cyber)bullying perpetration as an impulsive, angry reaction following (Cyber)bullying victimisation?

Abstract

This chapter starts from the unclear relation between impulsivity and (cyber)bullying perpetration and investigates the potential explanatory value of Agnew’s (1992) General Strain Theory. This theory posits that individuals who experience strain and angriness (as a result of strain) are more at risk of engaging in deviant behaviour, moderated by conditioning variables. In the current chapter, we tested whether (cyber)bullying victimisation leads to (cyber)bullying perpetration, mediated by anger and impulsivity. Analyses were performed on a longitudinal dataset (two time points, 6 months in between) among 1590 Belgian 11–17-year-olds. Path analyses showed direct relations between victimisation and perpetration. Indirect relations were found via anger and via the interaction term between anger and impulsivity. Victims who were angrier were more involved in bullying perpetration at time 2. This relation was slightly stronger for angry, impulsive victims. The results provide further insight into the determinants of (cyber)bullying behaviour.