Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

(Cyber)bullying Perpetration as an Impulsive, Angry Reaction Following (Cyber)bullying Victimisation?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Youth 2.0: Social Media and Adolescence

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agnew, R. (1992). Foundation for a general strain theory of crime and delinquency. Criminology, 30(1), 47–88. doi:10.1111/j.1745-9125.1992.tb01093.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agnew, R. (2001). Building on the foundation of general strain theory: Specifying the types of strain most likely to lead to crime and delinquency. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 38(4), 319–361. doi:10.1177/0022427801038004001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agnew, R., Brezina, T., Wright, J. P., & Cullen, F. T. (2002). Strain, personality traits, and delinquency: Extending general strain theory. Criminology, 40(1), 43–72. doi:10.1111/j.1745-9125.2002.tb00949.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173–1182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauman, S., Cross, D., & Walker, J. L. (Eds.). (2013). Principles of cyberbullying research: Definitions, measures, and methodology. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, D. (2006). Impulsivity as a mediator in the relationship between depression and problem gambling. Personality and Individual Differences, 40(1), 5–15. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2005.05.008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cleves, M. A., Gould, W. W., & Gutierrez, R. G. (2008). An introduction to survival analysis using stata (2nd ed.). College Station: Stata Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloward, R. A., & Ohlin, L. E. (1960). Delinquency and opportunity. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, A. K. (1955). Delinquent boys. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colder, C. R., & Stice, E. (1998). A longitudinal study of the interactive effects of impulsivity and anger on adolescent problem behaviour. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 27(3), 255–274. doi:10.1023/A:1022889202419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Espelage, D. L., & Swearer, S. M. (2003). Research on school bullying and victimisation: What have we learned and where do we go from here? School Psychology Review, 32(3), 365–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fanti, K. A., Demetriou, A. G., & Hawa, V. V. (2012). A longitudinal study of cyberbullying: Examining risk and protective factors. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 9(2), 168–181. doi:10.1080/17405629.2011.643169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, R. S., & Gross, A. M. (2004). Childhood bullying: Current empirical findings and future directions for research. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 9(4), 379–400.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hay, C., & Evans, M. M. (2006). Violent victimisation and involvement in delinquency: Examining predictions from general strain theory. Journal of Criminal Justice, 34(3), 261–274. doi:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2006.03.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heirman, W., & Walrave, M. (2012). Predicting adolescent perpetration in cyberbullying: An application of the theory of planned behavior. Psicothema, 24(4), 614–620.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holt, T. J., Bossler, A. M., & May, D. C. (2012). Low self-control, deviant peer associations, and juvenile cyberdeviance. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 37(3), 378–395. doi:10.1007/s12103-011-9117-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huck, J. L., Lee, D. R., Bowen, K. N., Spraitz, J. D., & Bowers, J. H. (2012). Specifying the dynamic relationships of general strain, coping, and young adult crime. Western Criminology Review, 13(2), 25.

    Google Scholar 

  • König, A., Gollwitzer, M., & Steffgen, G. (2010). Cyberbullying as an act of revenge? Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 20(2), 210–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kowalski, R. M., & Limber, S. P. (2013). Psychological, physical, and academic correlates of cyberbullying and traditional bullying. The relationship between youth involvement in bullying and suicide, 53(1, Supplement), S13–S20. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.09.018.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kowalski, R. M., Limber, S. P., & Agatston, P. W. (2012). Cyberbullying: Bullying in the digital age (Vol. 2). West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merton, R. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3(5), 672–682.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. D., & Lynam, D. (2001). Structural models of personality and their relation to antisocial behaviour: A meta-analytic review. Criminology, 39(4), 765–798. doi:10.1111/j.1745-9125.2001.tb00940.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, D. J., Vachon, D. D., & Aalsma, M. C. (2012). Negative affect and emotion dysregulation: Conditional relations with violence and risky sexual behaviour in a sample of justice-involved adolescents. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 39(10), 1316–1327. doi:10.1177/0093854812448784.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishna, F., Khoury-Kassabri, M., Gadalla, T., & Daciuk, J. (2012). Risk factors for involvement in cyber bullying: Victims, bullies and bully–victims. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(1), 63–70. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.08.032.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moon, B., McCluskey, J. D., & McCluskey, C. P. (2010a). A general theory of crime and computer crime: An empirical test. Journal of Criminal Justice, 38(4), 767–772. doi:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2010.05.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moon, B., Morash, M., & McCluskey, J. D. (2010b). General strain theory and school bullying: An empirical test in South Korea. Crime & Delinquency. doi:10.1177/0011128710364809.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, J. N., & Jasinski, J. L. (2012). Going cyber: Using routine activities theory to predict cyberbullying experiences. Sociological Spectrum, 32(1), 81–94. doi:10.1080/02732173.2012.628560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brennan, L. M., Bradshaw, C. P., & Sawyer, A. L. (2009). Examining developmental differences in the social-emotional problems among frequent bullies, victims, and bully/victims. Psychology in the Schools, 46(2), 100–115. doi:10.1002/pits.20357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pabian, S., & Vandebosch, H. (2014). Using the theory of planned behaviour to understand cyberbullying: The importance of beliefs for developing interventions. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 11(4), 463–477. doi:10.1080/17405629.2013.858626.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2011). Traditional and non-traditional bullying among youth: A test of general strain theory. Youth & Society, 43(2), 727–751. doi:10.1177/0044118X10366951.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pontzer, D. (2010). A theoretical test of bullying behaviour: Parenting, personality, and the bully/victim relationship. Journal of Family Violence, 25(3), 259–273. doi:10.1007/s10896-009-9289-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2004). SPSS and SAS procedures for estimating indirect effects in simple mediation models. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 36(4), 717–731. doi:10.3758/BF03206553.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romer, D. (2010). Adolescent risk taking, impulsivity, and brain development: Implications for prevention. Developmental Psychobiology, 52(3), 263–276. doi:10.1002/dev.20442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanford, M. S., Mathias, C. W., Dougherty, D. M., Lake, S. L., Anderson, N. E., & Patton, J. H. (2009). Fifty years of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale: An update and review. Personality and Individual Differences, 47(5), 385–395. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2009.04.008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tokunaga, R. S. (2010). Following you home from school: A critical review and synthesis of research on cyberbullying victimisation. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(3), 277–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Unnever, J. D. (2005). Bullies, aggressive victims, and victims: Are they distinct groups? Aggressive Behavior, 31(2), 153–171. doi:10.1002/ab.20083.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vazsonyi, A. T., Machackova, H., Sevcikova, A., Smahel, D., & Cerna, A. (2012). Cyberbullying in context: Direct and indirect effects by low self-control across 25 European countries. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 9(2), 210–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walrave, M., & Heirman, W. (2010). Towards understanding the potential triggering features of technology. In S. Shaheen & A. H. Churchill (Eds.), Truths and myths of cyber-bullying: International perspectives on stakeholder responsibility and children’s safety (pp. 28–49). New York: Peter Lang Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J., & Wang, X. (2012). Structural equation modeling: Applications using Mplus (3rd ed.). West Sussex: Wiley Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ybarra, M. L., Espelage, D. L., & Mitchell, K. J. (2007). The co-occurrence of internet harassment and unwanted sexual solicitation victimisation and perpetration: Associations with psychosocial indicators. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41(6, Supplement 1), S31–S41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MIOS, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    Sara Pabian & Heidi Vandebosch

Authors
  1. Sara Pabian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Heidi Vandebosch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sara Pabian .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    Michel Walrave

  2. University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    Koen Ponnet

  3. Department of Edu Studies & iMinds-MICT, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium

    Ellen Vanderhoven

  4. KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Jacques Haers

  5. University Centre Saint-Ignatius Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    Barbara Segaert

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Pabian, S., Vandebosch, H. (2016). (Cyber)bullying Perpetration as an Impulsive, Angry Reaction Following (Cyber)bullying Victimisation?. In: Walrave, M., Ponnet, K., Vanderhoven, E., Haers, J., Segaert, B. (eds) Youth 2.0: Social Media and Adolescence. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27893-3_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27893-3_11

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27891-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27893-3

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation