School age children from grades five and six completed measures on the three component beliefs of the Tripartite Belief Model. Measures were also completed on bullying and victim behavior. Student responses on all measures were examined for possible associations. Research found that victims of bullying behavior were more likely to suffer from low self-esteem, depression, and rejection from peers. Bullies were more likely to have criminal records by adulthood, engage in domestic violence, and abuse alcohol. Research also demonstrated that once developed, the social roles of victims and bullies carried over from grade to grade and school to school. Based on the Tripartite Model of Behavior bullying behavior will only occur if the bully feels capable of the behavior, believes the behavior is appropriate, and believes the behavior will result in something positive. The researchers hypothesized that bullying behavior would be positively associated with normative beliefs that considered unprovoked aggression and provoked aggression acceptable and rejected weakness. Higher bullying scores were also thought to be associated with greater self-efficacy beliefs about the use of aggression. Lastly, bully behavior was expected to be associated with outcome expectancy beliefs of a rewarding nature. The researchers second hypothesis was that victim behavior was associated with normative beliefs that rejected unprovoked aggression and accepted weakness. Victim self-efficacy was thought to be low for the use of aggression and high for the ability to inhibit aggression. Victim outcome expectancies were thought to be negative for the use of aggression. A total of 120 children completed all study measures. Study measures included the Beliefs and Attitudes Scale that measured normative beliefs, the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire-Modified that measured self-efficacy, and the Outcome Values Questionnaire that measured outcome expectancies. Bully and victim behavior was measured using several survey instruments which included self-report and peer ratings. The study results showed an association between the Tripartite Beliefs Model and bullying behavior. No association was observed between the Tripartite Beliefs Model and victim behavior. References