Bullies intimidate people they see as weak or vulnerable
There is an inter-generational continuity of personality disorders as bullying and narcissism. Maybe bullies grow up to become narcissists?
Both personalities are somewhat genetically predestined and heritable. Bullying is 70% heritable. Twin studies are a gold standard of behavioral genetics, a science that investigates the nature and origins of individual differences in human behavior. Genetics and environment exposure are both tied to certain personality types.
In twin studies, the ACE model is often used to decypher variability into genetic. The A represents additive genetic traits, then C represents the common environment in school or home that are shared by siblings, and E represents unique non-genetic features or error. Based on teacher’s reports, up to 34% of kids are involved in bullying (bully, victim, or both) at any given time. And approximately 10% of all children are pure bullies. No difference between boys and girls, both genders are involved in physical or verbal bullying.
Do these kids become adult narcissists later in life, unable to experience empathy for others?
Being a bully or victim tends to run in families, according to new research from the Department of…