Bystander intervention style and motivational factors influencing behavior in bullying situations

Abstract

Whether to intervene or not during a bullying situation influences how the interaction plays out. The researchers present a theoretical model of social dominance orientation, moral disengagement, and intervention self-efficacy vis-à-vis intervention behaviors. Data were collected from 284 Israeli Hebrew speaking adolescents. Participants were recruited using a snowball sampling technique. The results of structural equation modeling reveals that moral disengagement was a mediator between the association of social dominance orientation with the pro-bully bystander and outsider behaviors. Pro-bully bystander and victim-defender behaviors positively influenced the outsider behavior, and self-efficacy was related to the victim-defender behavior. Our results expand the understanding of the relationship between bystander intervention behaviors and motivational factors.