Coping strategies and social representations of bullies among bullying victims from individualistic and collectivist societies
Issued Date
2023-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
1354067X
eISSN
14617056
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85150869877
Journal Title
Culture and Psychology
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Culture and Psychology (2023)
Suggested Citation
Grothaus C. Coping strategies and social representations of bullies among bullying victims from individualistic and collectivist societies. Culture and Psychology (2023). doi:10.1177/1354067X231164796 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/82813
Title
Coping strategies and social representations of bullies among bullying victims from individualistic and collectivist societies
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
The effects bullying has on victims’ mental, emotional, and physical well-being depend on the coping strategies applied. As coping can be influenced by the environment in which it occurs, scholars have started to explore differences in coping across cultural contexts. However, qualitative research on the role of culture in coping with bullying victimization and social representations of bullies remains scarce. This study compares the coping strategies of US and Thai students with help of 28 in-depth interviews and 60 autobiographical written reflections. Findings revealed several differences in coping across groups. Thai students often tried to stay connected with the bully and felt guilty expressing anger. They assigned less responsibility and intention to the bully. This was only the case among US students if the bully was young. While Thai students laughed along to fit in, US students laughed off bullies to demonstrate that they did not care. Thai students regularly blamed themselves and tried to adapt their appearance and behavior. Whereas US students stressed how bullying helped them to become more resilient, Thai students highlighted increased tolerance. The possible role of culture in coping with bullying victimization, particularly of collectivist and individualistic cultural value orientations, as well as the role of social representations of bullies, is being discussed.