#902 - Dr Tracy Vaillancourt - The Science Of Childhood Bullying & Adult Mental Health

This podcast interviews a researcher specializing in bullying, exploring its causes, effects, and interventions. The discussion covers bully motivations (power dynamics, social skills, and dark triad traits), victim profiles (vulnerability, social dynamics), and the ineffectiveness of current interventions. A key finding highlights that popular bullies are impervious to intervention, and that victims often gain weight due to the stress of bullying. The interview concludes by discussing the long-term impacts of bullying on mental health and memory, emphasizing the need for early and sustained interventions focusing on social inclusion rather than just stopping aggressive acts.