Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt: Understanding Bullying, Aggression, and Gender in Child Development
Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt is a renowned psychologist and researcher whose work has significantly shaped how we understand bullying, aggression, and mental health in child development.
Her research, grounded in both evolutionary and social psychology, highlights the deep emotional and psychological impacts bullying has on children and adolescents.
Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone passionate about children's well-being, understanding Dr. Vaillancourt’s work can provide valuable insights into creating a kinder, more inclusive environment for all kids.
Bullying and Mental Health: The Lasting Impact
Bullying isn’t just a phase kids go through—it’s a deeply harmful experience that can leave long-lasting emotional scars.
Dr. Vaillancourt has found that children who are bullied often experience anxiety, depression, and a higher risk of suicide. Victims of bullying aren’t the only ones affected, either. Perpetrators can also experience mental health challenges down the road, as their aggressive behavior often stems from deeper emotional struggles.
Her research emphasizes that schools and communities must step up to provide support systems, not only for the victims but for the bullies as well. By focusing on mental health interventions, we can break the cycle of bullying and help children and adolescents find healthier ways to navigate their social worlds.
Relational Aggression and Gender Differences
One of the most eye-opening aspects of Dr. Vaillancourt’s research is her focus on relational aggression.
While physical bullying tends to get more attention, relational aggression—such as spreading rumors or social exclusion—can be just as damaging, especially for girls. Vaillancourt’s work reveals that girls are more likely to use relational aggression, which is often overlooked but can leave deep emotional wounds.
This insight is crucial for educators and parents who might assume that bullying is only happening when it's physically visible.
Relational aggression can fly under the radar but has just as much potential to harm a child's mental health. It’s essential to address these subtle forms of aggression to ensure that all children feel safe, supported, and included.
Bullying Through an Evolutionary Lens
Dr. Vaillancourt also takes a unique approach by exploring bullying through an evolutionary perspective.
She suggests that historically, bullying may have been a way for individuals to establish social dominance and secure their status within a group. While this might have had adaptive value in the past, today, it creates harmful environments that damage children’s mental health.
Understanding this evolutionary context helps educators and parents see bullying not just as a behavior to be punished, but as a social dynamic to be understood and addressed. By fostering empathy and teaching kids healthier ways to assert themselves and build connections, we can help reduce bullying in modern settings.
The Role of Teachers and Schools
One of Dr. Vaillancourt’s most important contributions is her research on the role of teachers and school environments in bullying.
Teachers who downplay or ignore bullying can unintentionally perpetuate the behavior, while schools that foster a culture of inclusivity, kindness, and respect can mitigate its impact. Dr. Vaillancourt advocates for teacher training that equips educators with the tools to recognize, address, and prevent bullying in all its forms—whether it's physical, relational, or cyber.
Gender and Aggression: Not Just a “Boys’ Issue”
An essential aspect of Dr. Vaillancourt’s work is her exploration of gender and aggression.
While boys may be more likely to engage in physical bullying, girls often use relational aggression, which can be equally damaging but is harder to detect. Dr. Vaillancourt’s research sheds light on the importance of recognizing that aggression manifests differently across genders, and both forms need to be addressed with equal seriousness.
In fact, her findings show that the emotional impact of relational aggression can be even more profound, particularly for girls who often internalize the stress of social exclusion. Understanding these gender differences in bullying and aggression is vital for creating effective interventions and ensuring that both boys and girls receive the emotional support they need.
Supporting Mental Health in Schools
Dr. Vaillancourt believes in the critical importance of mental health interventions in schools. She advocates for programs that not only address the victims of bullying but also the bullies themselves, recognizing that their behavior often stems from underlying emotional or psychological issues. By creating a supportive school environment, we can help children and adolescents build healthier relationships and prevent the harmful effects of bullying from taking root.
Final thoughts
Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt’s research highlights the complex and nuanced nature of bullying, aggression, and gender dynamics in child development. Her work calls for a comprehensive approach to addressing bullying—one that considers not only the victims but also the bullies, the role of teachers, and the impact of gender on aggression.
Her research provides a blueprint for fostering empathy, promoting inclusivity, and creating safe spaces in schools. We can help children grow into emotionally resilient adults if we just heed the science.
Dr. Vaillancourt’s research serves as a reminder that when it comes to bullying, early intervention, understanding, and compassion are key to helping all kids thrive.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
Vaillancourt, T., Hymel, S., & McDougall, P. (2013). The biological underpinnings of peer victimization: Understanding why and how the effects of bullying can persist across the lifespan. Theory into Practice, 52(4), 241-248. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405841.2013.829726
Vaillancourt, T., Brittain, H., McDougall, P., & Duku, E. (2013). Longitudinal links between childhood peer victimization, internalizing and externalizing problems, and academic functioning: Developmental cascades. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 41(8), 1203-1215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-013-9781-5
Vaillancourt, T., McDougall, P., Hymel, S., Krygsman, A., Miller, J., Stiver, K., & Davis, C. (2008). Bullying: Are researchers and children/youth talking about the same thing? International Journal of Behavioral Development, 32(6), 486-495. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025408095553
Vaillancourt, T., & Sunderani, S. (2011). The roles of genes, the environment, and coping strategies in children's aggression: An evolutionary perspective. Developmental Review, 31(1), 18-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2010.07.001
Vaillancourt, T., deCatanzaro, D., Duku, E., & Muir, C. (2011). Androgen dynamics and sociocognitive functioning in aggressive and nonaggressive children: A longitudinal analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 376-389. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01564.x