The paper "Bully-victim network perceptions of bullies, victims, and peer observers" by Kyosuke Tanaka, Keqin Zhang (Purdue University), Jeremy Foote (Purdue University), Seungyoon Lee (Purdue University), and Doran French (Purdue University) has been published in Social Networks.

This new study reveals how bullies, victims, and peer observers perceive bullying differently—and why it matters. Using social network analysis in Indonesian classrooms, the study uncovers that bullies often see their victims as friends, while victims disagree. Peers can also identify bullying but frequently misjudge who the aggressor is. The study highlights how gender, friendship ties, and mental shortcuts (schemas) shape these perceptions, offering new insights for educators and school administrators aiming to address bullying more effectively.

Read the full article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socnet.2025.06.002