• Question: what do you think causes some of the humans bully other humans?

    Asked by hannahpattinson127 to Ed on 22 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Ed Morrison

      Ed Morrison answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      Many monkeys and apes live in social groups, and there is often a hierarchy or pecking order, where the dominant animals are at the top and the subordinate ones at the bottom. The subordinate individuals get worse access to food, worse places sleeping, and fewer mating opportunities. Basically the dominant ones bully the weaker ones because they are selfish.

      Bullying in humans probably works in the same way, although humans actually get along better than most primate species. Bullying usually gets better as you get older. I don’t think there was much bullying at school after age 16 or so.

      If you know of any bullying, you should tell your teachers and parents. No-one should have to upt up with it.

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