Abstract
This chapter focuses on the act of bullying, prevalent during the middle school years. Bullying is a specific form of aggression and one that is used deliberately to secure resources. Following the idea that bullying is a form of proactive aggression is the assumption that in early adolescence, boys use bullying as a strategy to establish and maintain social dominance. Dominance is a relationship variable determining individuals' leadership status within a group that results from a series of agonistic and cooperative exchanges. After dominance is established, rates of aggression should decrease because individuals know who the toughest kids are, and to challenge a tougher individual would result in defeat. In cost-benefit terms, the costs of a challenge clearly outweigh the possible benefits. Other aspects of this model have also been supported empirically. The chapter also supports the assumption that bullying is used in the service of dominance as adolescent males make the transition from primary to middle schools.
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