Well said, I am totally with you in the essence of what you are saying. However I find interesting your statement that bullying others is an un-natural state for children to be in. I have always viewed it as a product of our evolutionary heritage. A process enforceing general group cohesion through the majority picking on weaker members of the collective. This process is evident in many pack hunting animals like humans, packs of wolves for example have an omega member who routinely gets it in the neck. From this perspective it seems that bullying is a perfectly natural process, albeit an immoral one (saying this as someone whos been a victim). I would be of the opinion that the most sure fire way of reducing bullying is to help victims become a hard target. Supervision will only work to a point as there are always those dark places with no adult around.
If I may respond in nerd psychologist mode first : actually I shouldnt have used the word “natural” – its a misleading term that can only lead to the dead end “nature/nurture” debate, which given the complexity of the human entity is an exercise in futility. Elsewhere I have already argued (years ago) that everything we do is “natural” by virtue of the fact that we do it.
Comparing humans to animals is fundamentally redundant, so I should not have said “natural” which implies the comparison. So in the first instance I was wrong to do that. By the same logic, I think your point about wolves is interesting (all comparisons between animals and humans can be “interesting” which is what makes them seductive, but not necessarily useful) but also, redundant.
We arent wolves, we have consciousness and culture and these “unnatural” and “self destructive” acts, from smoking, bullying to polluting our own environment (what wolf would shit in its own den and lie down to sleep in it?) are in fact “natural” to us.
Nerdy psychologist mode off. These points are cerebral and not that practical.
“I would be of the opinion that the most sure fire way of reducing bullying is to help victims become a hard target. Supervision will only work to a point as there are always those dark places with no adult around.”
I whole heartedly agree. Given time to think and reviewing the excellent, thoughtful comments and emails Ive received has helped me to organise my thoughts and ideas. The best thing adults (teachers/parents) can do is to strengthen the individual, not provide more supervision.
Values = self sufficiency and personal soveriegnity.
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Well said, I am totally with you in the essence of what you are saying. However I find interesting your statement that bullying others is an un-natural state for children to be in. I have always viewed it as a product of our evolutionary heritage. A process enforceing general group cohesion through the majority picking on weaker members of the collective. This process is evident in many pack hunting animals like humans, packs of wolves for example have an omega member who routinely gets it in the neck. From this perspective it seems that bullying is a perfectly natural process, albeit an immoral one (saying this as someone whos been a victim). I would be of the opinion that the most sure fire way of reducing bullying is to help victims become a hard target. Supervision will only work to a point as there are always those dark places with no adult around.
Hey, that is a great post
If I may respond in nerd psychologist mode first : actually I shouldnt have used the word “natural” – its a misleading term that can only lead to the dead end “nature/nurture” debate, which given the complexity of the human entity is an exercise in futility. Elsewhere I have already argued (years ago) that everything we do is “natural” by virtue of the fact that we do it.
Comparing humans to animals is fundamentally redundant, so I should not have said “natural” which implies the comparison. So in the first instance I was wrong to do that. By the same logic, I think your point about wolves is interesting (all comparisons between animals and humans can be “interesting” which is what makes them seductive, but not necessarily useful) but also, redundant.
We arent wolves, we have consciousness and culture and these “unnatural” and “self destructive” acts, from smoking, bullying to polluting our own environment (what wolf would shit in its own den and lie down to sleep in it?) are in fact “natural” to us.
Nerdy psychologist mode off. These points are cerebral and not that practical.
“I would be of the opinion that the most sure fire way of reducing bullying is to help victims become a hard target. Supervision will only work to a point as there are always those dark places with no adult around.”
I whole heartedly agree. Given time to think and reviewing the excellent, thoughtful comments and emails Ive received has helped me to organise my thoughts and ideas. The best thing adults (teachers/parents) can do is to strengthen the individual, not provide more supervision.
Values = self sufficiency and personal soveriegnity.