Exploring the Association Between Attachment and Bullying Among Adolescents Through Bowlbian Perspective

Bullying among adolescents is a worldwide pervasive phenomenon. Understanding the role of attachment stemming from the early years of life is crucial for addressing this major social issue. This research article explores the phenomena of bullying through the lens of Bowlby’s attachment theory. Secured attachment with the caregiver acts as a protective factor which fosters positive psychosocial development among adolescents in the form of empathy, emotional regulation and prosocial behavior. This in turn reduces the risk of bullying perpetration and victimization. Conversely, adolescents who share an insecure attachment bond with their parents and peers tend to show a higher propensity towards aggressive tendencies like bullying others and are at enhanced risk of being victimized as well. Despite of this understanding, there remains a significant dearth of literature examining the relationship of both parent and peer attachment with bullying. The present study aims to advance the existing literature by accentuating that secured bonding at both parental and peer level is paramount to mitigate the risks of bullying behaviors. Based on this conceptual approach, intervention strategies at the school and family level are discussed further.