Have you witnessed or experienced bully bonding? Start by naming it. The first step to dismantling a toxic alliance is to strip it of its invisibility. Speak to a therapist, a neutral HR partner, or a trusted outsider. You don't have to play the game—and you don't have to be the glue that holds their fragile bond together.
When you bond with an aggressor, you create a "window" for treatment rather than trying to kick down the psychological front door. Once a relationship is forged, that individual often becomes more compliant and eager to please—at least in your presence. How to Practice Bully Bonding bully bonding
A secure bully is a bonded bully. Because they are often misunderstood, it is important to: Have you witnessed or experienced bully bonding
The sibling context is perhaps the most overlooked arena for bully bonding. Mason, age 9, who has been unhappy with his sister Olivia, age 6, since the day she arrived, engages in repeated put-downs and plots how to break her down. What distinguishes ordinary sibling rivalry from sibling bully bonding is the presence of purposeful negative and hurtful intent, repeated over time, with a consistent power imbalance. Parents who fail to intervene are not merely allowing teasing; they are permitting a bonding pattern based on cruelty that may shape both children’s future relationships. Speak to a therapist, a neutral HR partner,
