Is teasing playful or harmful?
February 16, 2026, Molly Dawes
Teasing is a common but complex behaviour that can serve pro-social functions, but it can also have anti-social functions and harm the targeted person. Teasing interactions are influenced by factors such as the relationship between teaser and target and the content of the tease. Based on recent research, we developed a model that organizes these various factors and the links between them.