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bullying

·September 22, 2025·1 min read

Brain Scans Reveal How Bullying Sparks Instant Alarm and Distress

A new study shows that bullying activates distress pathways in the brain within seconds. Tweens and adults who viewed first-person bullying videos displayed heightened activity in social and emotional brain networks, alongside strong autonomic threat responses.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 19, 2025·6 min read

Cyberbullying Linked to PTSD Symptoms in Teens

A new national study finds that all forms of cyberbullying—not just direct threats—can cause trauma in teens, suggesting it should be considered a serious childhood adversity. Even subtle behaviors like exclusion from chats or online rumors were found to cause PTSD symptoms as severe as overt harassment. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,700 U.S. teens and found 87% had experienced at least one form of online victimization.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 6, 2024·6 min read

Hidden Narcissism in Women Tied to Partner Violence and Bullying

Researchers have discovered that vulnerable narcissism in women is linked to increased intimate partner violence and bullying. Unlike the grandiose narcissism often seen in men, women's narcissism manifests subtly. The findings highlight the need for gender-specific interventions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 13, 2024·4 min read

Childhood Bullying Increases Mental Health Risk in Teens

Childhood bullying can lead to significant distrust in others among young teenagers, greatly increasing their risk of serious mental health problems by adulthood. Analyzing data from 10,000 UK children over nearly two decades, the research found that those bullied at age 11 and developing interpersonal distrust by age 14 were 3.5 times more likely to face mental health issues at 17.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 5, 2024·6 min read

Brains of Bullied Teens Show Chemical Shifts Linked to Psychosis

A new study revealed a significant link between bullying in adolescents and the early stages of psychosis, associated with lower levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate in the brain's anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a region critical for emotion regulation. This finding underscores the potential of targeting glutamate levels for pharmaceutical interventions to mitigate the risk of developing psychotic disorders.

This shows a girl surrounded by other kids.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 10, 2023·5 min read

The Stealthy Scars of Bias-Driven Bullying

A U.S. national study highlights the amplified trauma experienced by students victimized due to bias, such as ethnicity or sexuality. The study analyzed responses from over 2,200 bullied students and found significant adverse effects on their health, self-esteem, social life, and academic performance, with intensified impacts for those facing multiple discrimination factors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 15, 2022·4 min read

Feeling Poorer Than Your Friends in Early Adolescence Is Associated With Worse Mental Health

Teenagers who come from less financially secure backgrounds than their friends are more likely to experience lower self-esteem and are at higher risk of being bullied. Additionally, both those who are poorer and those who are more affluent are more likely to perpetuate bullying behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 9, 2022·3 min read

Bullies Have Increased Risk for Violent Offenses

Children who bully others between the ages of 8 and 9 are more likely to commit violent offenses by the age of 31.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 7, 2021·5 min read

Nobody’s Been Studying Socially Isolated Kids, and That’s a Problem

Study reveals clear differences between children who are rejected by their peers and those who face social isolation. Children who are rejected by their peers are more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors, while those who are isolated were less likely to exhibit prosocial behaviors.

This shows two mean girls pointing at another girl and laughing

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 15, 2021·8 min read

From Psychopaths to ‘Everyday Sadists’: Why Do Humans Harm the Harmless?

Researchers investigate why some people take pleasure in hurting more vulnerable people.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 30, 2021·6 min read

Young People Who Experience Bullying Are More Likely to Fantasize About Committing Acts of Violence

Experiencing bullying and aggression as a teen or young adult increases violent ideations, including thoughts of harming or killing others, a new study reports.

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Featured Psychology

·March 15, 2021·4 min read

Bullies, Thieves and Chiefs: The Hidden Cost of Psychopaths at Work

It is estimated that 1% of the general population has psychopathic traits. Among the upper echelons of corporations, up to 3.5% of employees are psychopathic, with the percentage rising for those who are chief executives. Researchers investigate how those with psychopathic traits impact the workplace for other employees, and how corporate psychopaths end up costing the economy billions of dollars due to their unethical behaviors.