Positive and Negative Pairings: A Soft Intervention Focused on Reducing Aggression in Narcissistic Personality Adolescents to Reduce Bullying in Schools

Jiayi Zhou

Authors

Jiayi Zhou City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China Author

Keywords:

narcissistic personality, school bullying, aggression intervention, empathy enhancement, student psychological support

Abstract

School bullying has increasingly become a significant factor affecting the mental health and academic life of adolescents in mainland China and globally, with many victims suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), insomnia, anxiety, and mood disorders. While much research in mainland China focuses on psychological treatment and protective measures for victims, there is a scarcity of behavioral analyses and intervention programs targeting aggressors, especially adolescents with narcissistic personalities, a high-risk group. Narcissistic adolescents typically exhibit traits such as arrogance, intense emotional expressiveness, a craving for admiration and control, a strong desire for attention, and a lack of empathy, making them more prone to proactive aggression and bullying behaviors. This paper presents a typical case of school bullying involving a narcissistic individual, analyzes the common behaviors and psychology of narcissistic bullies based on the underlying logic and causes of their thinking, and integrates aggression-related theories to propose a “Positive-Negative Pairing” psychological intervention method based on student group participation. The intervention aims to gently modify self-perceptions and enhance empathy within the school environment, thereby reducing the aggression of narcissistic adolescents and consequently decreasing instances of bullying. The study indicates that this intervention method is highly targeted and sustainable, but also acknowledges limitations such as potential test manipulation by narcissistic individuals and low willingness to cooperate, suggesting the need for further optimization.

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