In summary, the current study points to the need for further research on the
escalation and crystallization hypotheses in order to obtain more knowledge
of development of moral disengagement in bullying. The study further highlights
the importance of bullying prevention and intervention. Especially, it
is urgent to focus on early intervention to prevent long-term bullying and
related increases in moral disengagement, since long-term bullying might
make children less likely to recognize that bullying is conflicting with moral
beliefs and thus less likely to stop bullying. Moreover, the findings of this
study stressed the importance of intervention efforts directed at the desisted
bullies as they, due to their increased disengagement acceptance, may prove
more likely to become involved in new bullying episodes