Children’s expressions of revenge fantasies in response to trauma from bullying : a psychodynamic perspective

Abstract

This research study presents an exploration of revenge fantasies that occur as a response to the trauma that is brought about by bullying. There is a lack of literature specifically related to this field of inquiry. Literature about the phenomenon of bullying and the existence of revenge fantasies from a psychodynamic perspective was used to inform the research. The researcher conducted a focus group with five participants between the ages of 11-13 years old, and employed the use of art to stimulate the participants’ narratives. Thematic analysis was conducted on the interview transcripts, and themes related to the participants’ experiences of being bullied and their subsequent revenge fantasies emerged. The findings indicated that all the participants had fantasies of revenge directed toward their bullies. Four of the participants’ fantasies involved their bullies dying violent deaths – either at their hands, or through suicide - whereas one participant’s fantasy involved God exacting revenge on the bully. These findings may have important implications in the therapeutic context, as they may contribute to future pathological behaviour if the revenge fantasies are unresolved.