Bullying in school: What makes it seem legit?
Very few bullying incidents are interrupted by spectators, even if a majority of the students tends to oppose abusive behaviors between peers. The way bullying is perceived by schoolchildren and high school students can help us understand why it prevails in certain school environments. The present article discusses the legitimation of bullying behaviors by pupils. It describes the link between normative beliefs and aggression, but more specifically between bullying and its perceived motivations. It also reflects on the role of the school environment in facilitating the legitimation of bullying incidents by the students witnessing them.