Schoolyard: Why certain bullies are liked by their peers

William Bukowski, a professor in the Departement of Psychology, was interviewed on Télé-Québec’s Le Code Chastenay regarding bullying and the social dynamics of classrooms. In a recent study led by Bukowski, four hundred fifth and sixth graders from five public schools in Montreal were asked to answer questions about their peers to explore the link between aggressive behaviours, social dominance and peer acceptance. The study revealed that children who were aggressive in order to be socially dominant were more liked by their peers than those who were aggressive  simply to defend themselves against the mockeries of others.