Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt

So studies show that there's a genetic component. So parents who were bullied tend to have, their kids have a higher likelihood of being bullied. So beyond the genetic influence, there's also an environmental influence. I think a lot of it has to do with attributions. So let's just say something's ambiguous and you tell me about it. And I put my lens of how I was treated as a kid

and influence your perception of an ambiguous situation. Chris, they're being mean to you. You just don't realize it. They're bullying you, right? And yet it's ambiguous. So it can go left or it could go right. That's part of the mechanism of what's also going on. So in a sense, parents are creating a threat sensitivity in their child based on their experiences.

and influence your perception of an ambiguous situation. Chris, they're being mean to you. You just don't realize it. They're bullying you, right? And yet it's ambiguous. So it can go left or it could go right. That's part of the mechanism of what's also going on. So in a sense, parents are creating a threat sensitivity in their child based on their experiences.

and influence your perception of an ambiguous situation. Chris, they're being mean to you. You just don't realize it. They're bullying you, right? And yet it's ambiguous. So it can go left or it could go right. That's part of the mechanism of what's also going on. So in a sense, parents are creating a threat sensitivity in their child based on their experiences.

We do that across all aspects of life, right? Like we're always about finding patterns, making inferences, that sort of thing. We tend to be our child's prefrontal cortex. Like we're, you know, their surrogate prefrontal cortex. I mean, that's what parenting is. The problem is, is in ambiguous situations, you don't want to have a hostile attribution.

We do that across all aspects of life, right? Like we're always about finding patterns, making inferences, that sort of thing. We tend to be our child's prefrontal cortex. Like we're, you know, their surrogate prefrontal cortex. I mean, that's what parenting is. The problem is, is in ambiguous situations, you don't want to have a hostile attribution.

We do that across all aspects of life, right? Like we're always about finding patterns, making inferences, that sort of thing. We tend to be our child's prefrontal cortex. Like we're, you know, their surrogate prefrontal cortex. I mean, that's what parenting is. The problem is, is in ambiguous situations, you don't want to have a hostile attribution.

And then when you see threat, you behave differently, right? So then maybe I've guarded myself. So now I'm seen as being aloof or arrogant. And then that influences an interaction. I mean, social interactions are pretty complicated. There's a lot of little things in the equation. So that's just one example of how it can happen.

And then when you see threat, you behave differently, right? So then maybe I've guarded myself. So now I'm seen as being aloof or arrogant. And then that influences an interaction. I mean, social interactions are pretty complicated. There's a lot of little things in the equation. So that's just one example of how it can happen.

And then when you see threat, you behave differently, right? So then maybe I've guarded myself. So now I'm seen as being aloof or arrogant. And then that influences an interaction. I mean, social interactions are pretty complicated. There's a lot of little things in the equation. So that's just one example of how it can happen.

So the interesting thing is there's a lot of polyvictimization. So if you're bullied in childhood, you're bullied in the workplace. So we showed a study where you see that across all areas. So intimate partner violence, dating violence, that sort of thing, workplace, peer relationships in adulthood. So it kind of there's some continuity there. But at the end of the day, we're using self-reports.

So the interesting thing is there's a lot of polyvictimization. So if you're bullied in childhood, you're bullied in the workplace. So we showed a study where you see that across all areas. So intimate partner violence, dating violence, that sort of thing, workplace, peer relationships in adulthood. So it kind of there's some continuity there. But at the end of the day, we're using self-reports.

So the interesting thing is there's a lot of polyvictimization. So if you're bullied in childhood, you're bullied in the workplace. So we showed a study where you see that across all areas. So intimate partner violence, dating violence, that sort of thing, workplace, peer relationships in adulthood. So it kind of there's some continuity there. But at the end of the day, we're using self-reports.

So I'm not saying that these are not people who are, like, that their perception is not true. But there could be a bias in their perception. And, you know, again, if you're looking for evidence that you're not well-liked, if you're looking for evidence that people are going to treat you poorly, you're going to find the evidence. And so I think some of that is happening.

So I'm not saying that these are not people who are, like, that their perception is not true. But there could be a bias in their perception. And, you know, again, if you're looking for evidence that you're not well-liked, if you're looking for evidence that people are going to treat you poorly, you're going to find the evidence. And so I think some of that is happening.

So I'm not saying that these are not people who are, like, that their perception is not true. But there could be a bias in their perception. And, you know, again, if you're looking for evidence that you're not well-liked, if you're looking for evidence that people are going to treat you poorly, you're going to find the evidence. And so I think some of that is happening.

I also think that there's probably some of the vulnerabilities that made somebody, that led to their victimization, not blaming victims at all. Never, ever would I suggest that you were treated poorly because of something that you did. You should be spared from oppression and humiliation, full stop.

I also think that there's probably some of the vulnerabilities that made somebody, that led to their victimization, not blaming victims at all. Never, ever would I suggest that you were treated poorly because of something that you did. You should be spared from oppression and humiliation, full stop.

I also think that there's probably some of the vulnerabilities that made somebody, that led to their victimization, not blaming victims at all. Never, ever would I suggest that you were treated poorly because of something that you did. You should be spared from oppression and humiliation, full stop.

But there's some cues that are being picked up by others that may still be there, that may still be present in adulthood.