Bullies, Egos, and the Pathetic Peacock Act

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Bullies, Egos, and the Pathetic Peacock Act

By. Dr. C.G. Mcfadden

Let’s stop sugarcoating this — bullies, especially the adult ones, aren’t some mysterious, untouchable force. They’re not “alpha,” they’re not powerful, and they’re definitely not as confident as they pretend to be. What they are is insecure, emotionally fragile, and desperate for validation.

In fact, most of them are just peacocks in cheap suits — strutting around, flashing feathers they didn’t even grow themselves, terrified that someone will notice the truth: there’s nothing remarkable underneath.

The Ego Problem

Bullies are ruled by ego. Not the healthy kind of ego that helps a person set boundaries and stand firm in their values — I’m talking about the brittle, glass-fragile ego that needs to be constantly fed. And the food they crave?

  • Attention

  • Fear

  • Submission

That’s it. They’re emotionally toddlers in adult bodies, throwing tantrums in the form of intimidation, gossip, and public humiliation tactics.

And just like a child screaming “LOOK AT ME!” across the room, they need to know they’re being watched. The difference? A toddler outgrows it. A bully doubles down.

Peacocking: The Bully’s Favorite Trick

This is where the psychology from the “peacocking” concept comes in. A bully’s entire sense of power depends on how they’re seen — not who they actually are.

  • They’ll brag about past victories (often exaggerated or outright fabricated).

  • They’ll flaunt status symbols they can’t afford.

  • They’ll constantly name-drop or align themselves with people they think are more respected.

  • They’ll pick fights with people they think they can dominate, just so they can put the “win” on display for an audience.

It’s all an act — an exhausting, never-ending performance designed to hide the fact that they are utterly ordinary and deeply insecure.

Inside the Bully’s Head

Here’s the ugly truth: inside that puffed-up, loud-mouthed exterior, there’s usually a very small, very scared person. They’re constantly running mental gymnastics like:

  • “If I don’t make them fear me, they won’t respect me.”

  • “If I don’t prove I’m better, I’ll be forgotten.”

  • “If I’m not in control, I’m nothing.”

These aren’t the thoughts of a strong, self-assured human being. These are the thoughts of someone whose self-worth is on life support — hooked up to a steady drip of attention, control, and social dominance.

Why They Act This Way

Bullying mixed with peacocking is a toxic cocktail brewed from:

  • Compensatory insecurity: They hate who they really are, so they build a fake, louder version to show the world.

  • Fear of irrelevance: The worst thing they can imagine is being ignored, so they stir chaos to stay in the spotlight.

  • Validation addiction: Every “win” — no matter how small or manufactured — gives them a rush they can’t get anywhere else.

But here’s the kicker — the more they do it, the more dependent they become on it. They need new victims. They need a bigger audience. They need another hit of ego fuel.

The Childishness of It All

Let’s be real — bullying is a pathetic, childish behavior dressed up in adult clothing.

  • A kid brags on the playground to hide that they’re bad at sports.

  • A grown bully brags online to hide that they’re failing at life.

The pattern hasn’t changed. They’re just taller now, with access to the internet and maybe a job title they hide behind.

And here’s what’s truly laughable — bullies think their peacocking makes them look strong. But anyone with an ounce of self-awareness can see the desperation dripping off them. A truly powerful person doesn’t need to constantly prove it. The loudest one in the room is almost always the weakest.

Why This Needs to Be Called Out

Some people tiptoe around bullies, afraid to “poke the bear.” But here’s the truth: the bear isn’t dangerous. The bear is a raccoon in a bear costume — noisy, messy, and hoping you don’t get close enough to notice the zipper in the back.

When we let bullies keep their façade, we feed their ego. We give them the exact reaction they’re addicted to. And the more we allow it, the more emboldened they become.

The Takeaway

If you strip away the feathers, the roar, and the ego theatrics, bullies are just people terrified of being ordinary. They’re scared of the silence when no one’s watching, because that’s when they have to sit with themselves — and they don’t like what they see.

Call it out. Stop playing into their performance. Let them face that silence. Because that’s where real growth could start — if they ever decide to put the feathers away and deal with who they actually are.

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