Bullying, moral disengagement and empathy: exploring the links among early adolescents

Abstract

The present study examined possible interactive links between empathy (cognitive and affective), moral disengagement (MD) and various bullying forms using a mediation model in 301 Greek early adolescents (10–12 years old). Results indicated that both dimensions of empathy were significantly negatively correlated, whereas MD was positively correlated with bullying forms. Two mediation models were tested separately for each gender. Mediation analysis indicated that boys with low affective, but not cognitive, empathy were more likely to demonstrate morally disengaged behaviour which in turn increased self-reported bullying involvement. Moreover, boys with high MD were more likely to report cognitive and affective empathy which resulted in greater direct and indirect relational bullying. In the case of girls, low affective and cognitive empathy evoked highly morally disengaged behaviour which triggered greater involvement in several bullying forms. Finally, cognitive and affective empathy partially mediated the link between MD and all forms of bullying for girls. The findings are discussed in the light of the relevant literature and implications for practice.

Keywords:

• Bullying
• moral disengagement
• empathy
• cognitive
• affective

Acknowledgements

Thanks, are extended to Assistant Professor Dr Angelos Markos for his statistical advice.