What do the narratives tell us about victims and bullies?

The study analyzes the linguistic markers of personal narratives from victims, bullies, and mixed profiles (individuals who have experienced both roles) in bullying situations across social media. Using statistical and qualitative methods, the research identifies distinct linguistic and psychological categories associated with each role. Victims' language reflects self-focus and emotional distress, often associated with vulnerability and an emphasis on immediate personal experience, including terms related to suffering and mental health challenges. Bullies, conversely, display language that deflects responsibility, often involving group-oriented justifications and evaluative adjectives, highlighting social dominance and externalized behaviors. Mixed profiles exhibit complex language patterns indicating distress, power-seeking, and reduced guilt, possibly driven by previous victimization and a desire for retribution. By identifying these nuanced linguistic features, the study enhances understanding of the psychological and social dynamics underpinning bullying, suggesting that language analysis could inform more precise detection and intervention strategies for both traditional and cyberbullying. These findings underscore the need for empathy-driven and context-sensitive approaches to address bullying effectively in educational and digital settings.