Are bullies alpha males — or sick puppies?

Here I dismantle the idea that bullies are strong “alpha males” dominating their peers. Instead, I argue that bullying stems from trauma, insecurity, and the reproduction of toxic social scripts. Recasting bullies as damaged rather than dominant reframes the problem and opens the door to compassionate but firm interventions that address the root causes of abusive behavior.

Recommended citation: Sosteric, Mike. (2018). "Are bullies alpha males — or sick puppies?" The Conversation.
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