Is there a benefit to bullying?
 

First, I am not advocating that bullying is positive. We all know that it is not. And, I have experienced first hand a teen suicide from bullying.

With that out of the way, why is bullying such a common behavior?

I think that there must be a social utility built in way back in our development? I never took any sort of Anthropology courses, so this is all new territory to me.

What prompted this question? I have a neighbor who everyone hates. He is mostly harmless but he is just one of those people that everyone despises. Even the sweetest church-lady across the street rolls her eyes at his mention. And my other neighbor would really just love to see harm come to this guy. Me? I see this guy and a part of me just wants to punch him. (and, I am really not the sort of person who goes around hitting people.) I am pretty sure my reaction is not unique.

To be clear, I am nothing but polite to this person. While my darker instincts tell me to do one thing, my civilized training keeps bad behavior in check.

So what is it? Why do we have a streak of violence cooked in? How does that help us?

It is just a power trip for the bully. They see someone weaker, and get pleasure in making someone else suffer like they do from their own self hate.

As soon as someone stands up to most bullies, they collapse.

I'd not characterize it so much as violence but maybe more like displays of strength.

The development of "civilized societies" has not really tamed our natural instincts with respect to Alphas.

Intimidation is a powerful survival tool in nature.

"Sociology" class in High School. Taught by Mr. Phillips.

Fantastic teacher and what I learned in that class has stayed with me through the years.

There are reasons for how people act socially.

Bullying is merely a way to prop up one's ego when they suffer from self esteem issues.

That's it in a nutshell.

I agree with Glen and Baz 100%.

But, this behavior is universal. WHY do we (as a species) come back to this same pattern? What is the reward?

What is the reward? - people like to have power over other people. Some get together (consolidate power) to have the power to bully the bullies.

Usually the common missing element is the drive for a win-win outcome.

IOW, the bully is the person or group that is of a zero-sum-game mentality where they view loss in another as a win for their position. So, it is perception of benefit.

As a veteran of many episodes of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, I can tell you it’s not limited to our species.

Somewhere along the line to a degree, Bullying is a factor in developing leadership skills.
Its a necessary evil attribute of Humans. God said their are seven

LOL, great post, and absolutely.

These folks seem to be more animalistic (more brawn, less brain) IME. And, IMO, most of the time, they are trying to prop up their ego by subjugating others. I always think of it like this. A bully pictures themselves as being comparable or even less than others in many ways, but if they can physically oppress others, that makes them stand out by reducing the level of the others around them.

I just saw this the other day. Impressive.
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Agree with McLovin. I was thinking about Lions and similar as well.

Maybe 3rd Gear Ted has it down.

Maybe it is about an ancient and now un-needed pecking order? This seems about right.

I can see that bullying establishes dominance and an order of power.

This isn't needed today. But maybe our four legged ancestors did need this???

I view bullying and leading as 2 separate, nearly opposite things. Leaders lead. Bullies oppress/force. I would think that a bully would make a horrible leader. Aren't these the guys that most folks hate as a manager?

In the animal world, especially in pack animals like dogs, cattle, chimpanzees, lions and so on there is always a "pack ranking" and one Alpha male and female. We have all seen a little dominate dog bully around a much larger submissive dog.

I have little doubt that some of that animal brain is in humans as well. I bet there are several doctoral thesis written about it.

Great show!

As an aside....did you know that Marlin Perkins was the director at the St. Louis Zoo? If you've ever been there you'll notice the efforts in creating environments for the animals very similar to their native habitat.

https://stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductee/marlin-perkins/

*
https://www.stlzoo.org/about/history/marlinperkins

Y'all sounds like carole baskins coming against joe exotic

bullying enforces conformity which reinforces and sustains the current power structures.

bullying is a way to prevent social progress.

LOL

As if Progressives don't bully. -Bake the damn Rainbow cake, Bigot!

Oh cp, yer funny.

Sometimes, when it is "group" bullying. But not in single person bullying, no. It is alpha behavior.

i didnt bring up politics.

i said only that bullying is about reinforcing and sustaining the current power structures.

if you believe this was a political statement, you might want to think about why that was your first response.

alpha behavior is a social structure.