ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of multiple social science theories and perspectives in explaining bullying. It is divided into theories and perspectives represented by four major branches of social science: psychology, sociology, anthropology, and political-economics. Scholars have therefore come to realise the importance of integrating psychological theories with social environmental perspectives. The chapter also provides a trans-disciplinary analysis, as well as a singular analysis, of theories and perspectives that move the research beyond a psychologically dominated explanation of bullying. Theories and frameworks that underpin psychological perspectives are attachment theory, social learning theory, social-ecological framework, and theory of stress and coping. Attachment theory is a widely accepted developmental theory that explains the nature of an affectual bond between child and primary caregiver. The possible explanation for the development of school bullying comes from social learning theory, which suggests that “most human behaviour is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others. Anthropology is a discipline with potential to inform research on victimisation.
