Citation

Dixon R. J. School Violence 2007; 6(3): 3-26.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J202v06n03_02

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The literature suggests that ostracism coerces conformity to group norms: It maintains the stability, cohesion and safety of the group, and therefore helps maintain the smooth functioning of a group. To this end, a wide range of punishing behaviours may first be employed but if these are not successful, the individual may be permanently excluded. Therefore a person may be the subject of ostracism even if not excluded from the group: Where the punishing behaviours of the group persuade an individual to change their behaviour, the process will have served its function and will cease. The possibility that some bullying at school may be the result of this process emerged during the qualitative analysis of retrospective accounts from adults who are deaf. This resulted in a review of the relevant literature and a set of codes which were employed to reanalyse the data. The findings suggest that some bullying in groups can indeed be understood as ostracism.