Participatory Methodologies for Addressing School Bullying: An Overview and Methodological Guidelines

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Conflict Resolution

Background:

• Bullying extends beyond a simple victim-perpetrator dynamic, involving a network of participants including bystanders and enablers.
• Traditional approaches often overlook the relational and group-based nature of bullying dynamics within school environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reframe bullying as a relational phenomenon requiring a collective response.
• To advocate for strategies that involve bystanders and foster alliances to combat bullying.
• To present a participatory framework for developing school-wide interventions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of bullying as a relational phenomenon within group networks.
• Application of Freirean pedagogy principles for fostering alliances and collective action.
• Development of a participatory process for creating a School Coexistence Plan.

Main Results:

• Effective bullying prevention necessitates undermining bystander support and encouraging active participation in defense of targets.
• Empowering bullied individuals to confront situations is crucial.
• Building alliances across diverse groups within schools is essential for addressing bullying.

Conclusions:

• Addressing bullying requires a shift from individualistic to collective responsibility, involving all members of the school community.
• A participatory approach, like the Participatory Construction of Peaceful Coexistence, offers a viable framework for developing and implementing effective School Coexistence Plans.
• Recognizing shared humanity and fostering inclusivity are fundamental to dismantling bullying behaviors.