When two or more people participate in bullying, they create a shared secret. The act of hiding their behavior from authorities or the target generates a “we’re in this together” mindset. This complicity lowers individual guilt (“everyone else did it too”) and simultaneously raises in-group trust.
"Bully bonding" occurs when individuals form close social connections by jointly targeting, harassing, or excluding someone else. This form of social gluing relies on shared aggression to create a powerful, albeit toxic, sense of belonging. While it provides immediate status to the participants, it inflicts severe psychological damage on the victim and erodes the cultural fabric of schools, workplaces, and online spaces. bully bonding
If you recognize bully bonding in your school, workplace, family, or online community, do not despair. The cycle can be broken, but it requires deliberate, courageous action. When two or more people participate in bullying,