Researchers at the University of Bath found that some young girls will mutilate and torture their Barbie dolls, reports The Associated Press.

Coming from the university's marketing and psychology departments, the researchers questioned 100 children about their feelings toward a number of products. The girls had the strongest reaction to Barbie. Children reported feeling "rejection, hatred and violence," says Agnes Naim, one of the researchers.

"The meaning of 'Barbie' went beyond an expressed antipathy; actual physical violence and torture towards the doll was repeatedly reported, quite gleefully, across age, school and gender," Naim adds.

While adults might see the mutilation of Barbies as disturbing, for children, the activity is simply an imaginative way of disposing of something that is no longer wanted, Naim says.

"The girls we spoke to see Barbie torture as a legitimate play activity, and see the torture as a 'cool' activity," said Nairn. "The types of mutilation are varied and creative, and range from removing the hair to decapitation, burning, breaking and even microwaving."