Watch The Video Titled From School Yard Bullying To Genocide

Watch The Video Titled From School Yard Bullying To Genocide Barbar

Watch the video titled, “From school yard bullying to genocide: Barbara Coloroso at TEDxCalgary” (19 min 5 s). Write a one to two (1-2) page essay in which you: Identify the most important step in the student’s guide to research that you would need in order to analyze bullying. Define the identified critical step of research in your words. Explain how bullying relates to one (1) of the following topics: the agents of socialization (i.e., family, teachers and school, peers), formal organizations (i.e., conformity to groups), different types of deviance (i.e., everyday deviance, sexual deviance, or criminal deviance). Provide a rationale for your response.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. To keep this essay short and manageable, your only sources for the essay should be the TED video and the sections noted in your text. For this reason, APA citations or references are not required for this assignment. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required assignment page length. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: Define the basic concepts used in the discipline of sociology. Define the various methodologies for sociological research. Identify the sociological perspective to the inequalities of class, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomics, and political aspects. Use technology and information resources to research issues in sociology. Write clearly and concisely about sociology using proper writing mechanics.

Paper For Above instruction

The phenomenon of bullying, especially as exemplified in Barbara Coloroso’s TEDx talk, highlights the importance of systematic research in understanding its roots, manifestations, and potential solutions. Among the various steps in the student’s guide to research, the most critical component necessary for analyzing bullying effectively is the identification and formulation of a precise research question. This step involves narrowing broad concerns about bullying into specific, researchable questions that guide data collection and analysis. Without this focus, efforts risk becoming unfocused, leading to generalized or superficial understanding.

Defining this research step in my own words, I see it as the process of pinpointing exactly what aspect of bullying I want to explore and the specific problem I seek to address. For example, a research question might be: "How does peer influence contribute to the escalation of bullying in middle schools?" or "What role do family dynamics play in preventing or perpetuating bullying behaviors?" This step requires critical thinking and clarity, as it sets the foundation for gathering relevant information, selecting appropriate methods, and deriving meaningful conclusions.

In analyzing bullying, the agent of socialization, particularly peers, plays a significant role. Peer groups heavily influence individual behavior, social norms, and attitudes, especially during adolescence when identity formation is crucial. As Coloroso emphasizes, bullying often stems from peer dynamics where acceptance, conformity, and social status become prioritized, sometimes at the expense of empathy and morality. Peers can either reinforce bullying behaviors or serve as protectors who challenge them. Understanding this, sociologists focus on how peer groups shape individual actions and societal norms, reinforcing or challenging deviant behaviors like bullying.

Bullying relates closely to the sociological concept of conformity within formal organizations—such as schools—where groups establish norms and expectations for behavior. When students conform to group norms that tolerate or endorse bullying, it perpetuates a cycle of violence and exclusion. Conversely, when anti-bullying norms are established and reinforced by school policies, teachers, and peer leadership, conformity shifts towards healthier social interactions. This dynamic illustrates how formal organizations influence individual behavior through norms, sanctions, and collective expectations, thereby impacting patterns of deviance.

The rationale for focusing on peer influence and conformity is rooted in the sociological understanding that social environments either facilitate or inhibit deviant acts like bullying. Recognizing the socialization agents and organizational norms gives insight into how group dynamics sustain harmful behaviors or promote positive change. Addressing bullying requires targeted interventions that modify peer group norms and organizational policies, fostering an environment where empathy and respect supersede conformity to harmful behaviors.

References

• Barbara Coloroso. (2010). From School Yard Bullying to Genocide. TEDxCalgary. https://www.ted.com/talks/barbara_coloroso_from_school_yard_bullying_to_genocide
• Henslin, J. M. (2017). Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (13th ed.). Pearson.
• Giddens, A. (2013). Sociology (7th ed.). Polity Press.
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• Fine, G. A. (2012). Small Groups and Culture. In J. Delamater (Ed.), Handbook of Sociology. Springer.
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• Lareau, A. (2011). Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life. University of California Press.
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