The Social Turn in Bullying Research: Sociocultural/Sociological Perspectives

In this chapter, we approach bullying research from an interdisciplinary perspective, as the authors are respectively a philosopher and social psychologist. We introduce the concept of social exclusion anxiety and look at some of the dynamics, which may follow when such anxiety permeates the culture in a school class or in any other group of children and young people. While looking into such processes we also argue for the importance of understanding shifting positions in bullying dynamics, as well as understanding the dilemmas and challenges involved for victims in labeling themselves as victims. Concepts of ridicule, shame and social death provide keys for understanding the social maneuvering and emotions amidst bullying dynamics. The impact of bullying research has been productive in creating a public and policy awareness of these grave issues. However, with respect to moving forward, we need to realize that this field still has a way to go in terms of providing knowledge about bullying that is grounded in nuanced analyses sensitive to the complexities and grounded in nuanced and complexity sensitive analyses of everyday life. We close the article with some reflections on challenges for implementation of intervention and prevention practices.