The Relationship Between Bullying Behavior and Subclinical Psychopathy in Adolescents
- whereemotionsflow
- May 4
- 3 min read
By: Sofía Lodovichi
Bullying constitutes a significant social problem among children and adolescents, characterized by repeated aggressive behaviors and a power imbalance. On the other hand, subclinical psychopathy includes traits such as emotional coldness, impulsivity, and manipulation, without reaching clinical levels.
Studies have suggested a significant relationship between these traits and bullying behavior. This essay analyzes this relationship, based on recent empirical evidence, and discusses its implications for prevention and intervention in educational contexts.
Bullying
School bullying, also known as bullying, is a phenomenon that affects a large number of adolescents around the world. Also called intimidation or harassment, it refers to a repetitive school behavior that affects the normal behavior of the victim and/or the class, both inside and outside an educational institution. The behaviors that cause suffering to individuals are varied and include: insults, nicknames, ambushes, ignoring, excluding, damaging belongings, threatening, pushing, and hitting, among others. It includes verbal, physical, and/or psychological abuse behaviors. (Arellano, nd.)
Over the years, numerous studies have attempted to identify the factors that predispose adolescents to engage in bullying behaviors. One of the psychological factors that has garnered attention in the last decade is the presence of subclinical psychopathy traits.
Subclinical psychopathy
Subclinical psychopathy refers to the presence of psychopathic traits—such as emotional coldness, egocentrism, impulsivity, and interpersonal manipulation—without reaching the clinical diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder. Although these adolescents do not present a formal pathology, their traits can have significant consequences on their social behavior, including bullying.
Subclinical Psychopathy: Main Characteristics
According to the triarchic model, psychopathy consists of three dimensions: boldness, disinhibition, and meanness.
-Boldness is related to social courage and risk tolerance.
-Disinhibition with impulsivity and the inability to self-control.
-And insensitivity with a lack of empathy and disdain for others.
When these traits are present at moderate or subclinical levels, they can manifest in aggressive or disruptive behaviors in the school environment.
The relationship between subclinical psychopathy and bullying
Recent studies have specifically explored the relationship between subclinical psychopathy traits and bullying behaviors in adolescents. It was described that adolescents with high levels of insensitivity and disinhibition were significantly more likely to engage in physical and verbal bullying. Additionally, it was observed that these traits increased the likelihood of also engaging in cyberbullying, as antisocial behaviors are transferred to the digital environment.
On the other hand, the role of moral disapproval and psychopathic traits in bullying was examined, concluding that adolescents with subclinical psychopathy showed lower empathy and greater tolerance for aggression. In these cases, bullying was not only more frequent but also more strategic and manipulative.
These findings suggest that it is not simply about impulsive aggression, but rather a structured pattern of domination and control over others, in line with psychopathic characteristics.
Conclusion
The relationship between subclinical psychopathy and bullying in adolescents is supported by a solid foundation of empirical studies. Adolescents who exhibit traits of insensitivity, disinhibition, and manipulation are more likely to engage in bullying behaviors, both in physical and virtual contexts.
Bibliography
Fanti, K. A., & Kimonis, E. R. (2012). Bullying and victimization: The role of conduct problems and psychopathic traits. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 22(4), 617–631. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1532-7795.2012.00809.x
Patrick, C. J., Fowles, D. C., & Krueger, R. F. (2009). Triarchic conceptualization of psychopathy: Developmental origins of disinhibition, boldness, and meanness. Development and Psychopathology, 21(3), 913–938.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/development-and-psychopathology/article/abs/triarc hic-conceptualization-of-psychopathy-developmental-origins-of-disinhibition-boldness-and-m eanness/172BC63ED5C4C4C295C47DDCB01E838D
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Cheek, J. A. (2017). The bully and the beast: Correlations between psychopathic traits and bullying in a sample of university students (Master’s thesis, CUNY John Jay College). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1097&context=jj_etds Psiconecta. (n.d.). ¿Qué es el bullying? Psiconecta. https://psiconecta.org/bullying
Zych, I., Ortega-Ruiz, R., & Del Rey, R. (2023). Psychopathy, moral disengagement and cyberbullying: A systematic review. Current Psychology.
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