Christie Ferrari, a clinical psychologist, discusses the phenomenon of mean girl moms who exhibit relational aggression through subtle social manipulation. Unlike overt bullying, their tactics include creating social exclusion in varied contexts, often fueled by social pressures to avoid direct conflict. Ferrari identifies four common behaviors: selectively inviting some while excluding others, ignoring specific messages in groups, creating tight social circles that make it hard to join in, and using backhanded reminders of missed events. Understanding these behaviors can help victims choose healthier responses in these scenarios.
"Relational aggression is what it's called. Unlike the overt bullying seen in younger children, it's more subtle, happening because women are socialized to avoid direct conflict."
"The key difference between an acquaintance and a mean girl mom is that a mean girl's behavior changes depending on the social circle she's with."
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