This article examines how moral disengagement, empathy, belief
in a just world, and peer group normative beliefs regarding the
roles of bully and defender of the victim are associated with
attitudes regarding the roles of the bully and the defender of the
victim. Two hundred ninety-two students from grades 6–9
participated. Results showed that more positive attitudes regarding
role of bully were predicted by higher levels of moral disengagement,
whereas more positive attitudes regarding the role of defender of
the victim were predicted by lower levels of moral disengagement.
The perception of the normative beliefs of the peer group also
predicted the attitudes of participants regarding the respective role.