The brain of a bully

Introduction

Bullying is a global social issue affecting any individual regardless of sex, age, or gender, particularly in childhood and adolescence. Approximately one-third of the youth is bullied worldwide; the range could be as low as 7% in Tajikistan to 74% in Samoa. While much neuroscientific research focuses on bullying victimisation and social exclusion, there is a growing field to understand the brain mechanisms behind bullying behaviour. Why does bullying occur? Is there a neurological basis for such behaviour? This article will answer these questions with insights into prevention and intervention strategies.  

The neural basis of bullying

As per Johnna R. Swartz, an assistant professor at the University of California, Davis:

The Swartz team focused on the amygdala, a small almond-shaped structure deep within the brain. The amygdala is critical for processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression. Swartz and her colleagues conducted a functional resonance imaging (fMRI) study on 49 adolescents, examining how their amygdala responded to different emotional expressions during a face-matching task. The findings indicated that the adolescents who engaged in bullying behaviour exhibited a heightened amygdala response to angry faces and a diminished amygdala response to fearful faces. This pattern suggests that bullies may struggle to recognise fear in others, potentially making them less likely to empathise with their victims.

Moreover, a study revealed that adolescents who reported higher rates of bullying showed increased activation of the ventral striatum (the area that responds to rewarded feelings), amygdala (emotion processing), medial prefrontal cortex (involved with social cognition, decision-making), and insula (salience detection) while observing social exclusion scenarios. The findings suggest that bullying is not just about aggression but also about maintaining social dominance and hierarchy. Another study by the University of Chicago conceded that bullies might enjoy others in pain by observing a robust activation of the amygdala and ventral striatum when watching pain inflicted on others. 

Why is knowing the neural basis of bullying useful?

Understanding the root cause of bullying can provide effective prevention and intervention strategies:

1. Social-emotional training (SET) to improve emotional regulation and empathy, which can help reshape neural pathways. For example, programmes like the ‘Roots of Empathy’ initiative have shown that training children to recognise emotions can reduce bullying behaviours in schools.

2. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) allows bullies to reframe negative thoughts and develop a healthier response to social interactions. For instance, the CBT techniques, like role-playing social situations, have been successfully used in school-based interventions.

3. Mindfulness and cognitive training strengthen the prefrontal cortex by meditation and improve decision-making skills and impulse control. 

4. School-based interventions (like anti-bullying programs) create supportive environments that reward prosocial behaviour rather than only punishing aggressive behaviour. 

Conclusion

The neuroscience of bullying helps us understand the root cause of bullying scientifically. Bullying is not simply a matter of choice; there is a deeper scientific basis to consider. This knowledge can help to develop comprehensive solutions to prevent bullying and create a healthier social environment. Future studies should focus on longitudinal studies that track brain development in children and adolescents involved in bullying, thereby informing how early interventions can reshape them for positive change.

Written by Prabha Rana

Related articles: Aggression / Depression in childhood / Forensic neurology

REFERENCES

Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA). “Facts about Bullying.” StopBullying.Gov, 9 Oct. 2024, www.stopbullying.gov/resources/facts.   

“Bullies May Enjoy Seeing Others in Pain: Brain Scans Show Disruption in Natural Empathetic Response.” University of Chicago News, news.uchicago.edu/story/bullies-may-enjoy-seeing-others-pain-brain-scans-show-disruption-natural-empathetic-response. Accessed 15 Feb. 2025.  

Dolan, Eric W. “Neuroscience Study Finds Amygdala Activity Is Related to Bullying Behaviors in Adolescents.” PsyPost, 7 Dec. 2019, www.psypost.org/neuroscience-study-finds-amygdala-activity-is-related-to-bullying-behaviors-in-adolescents/.   

Perino, Michael T., et al. “Links between adolescent bullying and neural activation to viewing social exclusion.” Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, vol. 19, no. 6, 10 July 2019, pp. 1467–1478, https://doi.org/10.3758/s13415-019-00739-7.