Peer Group’s Normative Beliefs Toward Bullying Roles
Another factor, besides attitude, that is important to predict the behavior,
and is antecedent to behavioral intention, is the perception of the pressures
of significant others (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975). This subjective norm is
defined as the result of the sum of normative beliefs (expectancies of what
specific others, referents, think the person should or should not do),
weighted by the motivation to comply with each one of these referents.
Given that in adolescence the peer group is the most important developmental
influence (e.g., Emler & Reicher, 1995; Harris, 1995), it is expected
that normative beliefs of the peer group about bullying roles will affect
attitudes regarding bullying roles.