Pesters; Een heterogene groep van sociaal competente of incompetente individuen?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if social competence in bullies differs from a control group of children not involved in bullying. Social competence was defined by resource control, social preference, perceived popularity and the functions of aggression. Furthermore, it was examined whether bullies form a heterogeneous group based on social competence. For this study, Dutch children in the age range of 9 to 12 years old were allocated to groups based on their role in bullying and their strategy use. Multi-informant measures were used to acquire information. A distinction was found between bistrategic bullies, who use prosocial and coercive strategies, and coercive bullies, who only use coercive strategies. The results indicated that bullies were more socially competent than children not involved in bullying. Additionally, bullies indeed form a heterogeneous group based on social competence; overall bistrategic bullies scored higher on social competence. Interventions should take the existence of different types of bullies into account.