[–] rationalinquisition 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
It looks like they just did a survey. As a professional statistician, I would question how seriously these results should be taken.
[–] anonlymouse [S] 1 point 0 points 1 point (+1|-1) ago
And she said based on the results she wants to re-do the study on a larger scale.
As a professional statistician do you also only skim articles?
[–] rationalinquisition 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
I question the the methodology itself. Letting people self-analyze their own level of depression, social status, and self-esteem, especially with a group that has statistically proven history of narcissism, doesn't seem like the most accurate form of assessment.
[–] tolstoshev 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Hardly surprising: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100203084254.htm
[–] tonberry2 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
They are trying to argue against the belief that bullies are sick people with genetic illnesses and broken pasts. Their argument is that bullies are acting the way they do to improve their rank (or at least their belief that they are already in a higher rank). Anybody who has been bullied in high school usually figures this out about the people that pick on them; bullies are trying to achieve grandeur by demonstrating to themselves that they aren't as lowly as the people they pick on. This idea is what this study concludes as well:
The average bully isn’t particularly sadistic or even deeply argumentative,” he says. “What they really are is people driven for status.”
It's actually a great conclusion because it removes the nonsense conclusion that bullies aren't reponsible for their behavior because of poor genetics or what have you. They are choosing to be a-holes for personal gain.
[–] conundrumbombs 0 points 4 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago
This makes a lot of sense, because all you have to do is state the inverse:
"Provocative new study finds victims of bullying have lowest self-esteem, social status, highest rates of depression."
[–] BigTimStrange ago
Here's the problem with the study: every living creature on this earth is a product of genetics + environment. Now they're not wrong if they're saying that genetics plays a role in bullying behavior, but to say environment plays no part is completely incorrect.
[–] anonlymouse [S] ago
Where did they say environment has no effect?
[–] BigTimStrange ago
They're saying there that environmental factors was believed to be the cause, but it's actually genetics. It's both.