“ Mediation as a Strategy of Pacific Resolution of Conflicts in the School Environnement: The Mediation Team of the School Centre ” Comenius Project Defining Concepts

Galtung (1985) defines violence as : “something that can be avoided and that hinders human fulfilment and that explains why there are persons who suffer from emotional and mental realisations (...) underneath their potential realisations”. Planella (1998) tells us that it is “that situation or situations in which two or more individuals meet in a confrontation where one or more persons get harmed, being physically or psychologically assaulted.” Defining concepts Violence

Etological theory and Psychoanalytic theory (Freud) violence is innate, it is a natural instinct, even if it can be avoided since the human beings have ressources that can help them control and canalize it. Conductist theory (Bandura, 1963) violence is something that is acquired by learning through imitation of violent behaviours. Being a ambientalist theory, it states that aggressivity is not innate but that it is made through the influence of the social environment on the individual. Sociocultural and environmental theory (Brofenbrenner, 1979) violence has a social nature. It develops through different social contexts in which the individual lives such as family, school, friends, other cultures, etc.; social context understood as the exchange of feelings, emotions, values, attitudes, etc. The person develops internal patterns of behaviour that generate violence. Theories on Violence Defining concepts

Causing trouble in class to scoff the teacher’s authority. Absenteeism repeatedly Blackmail. Physical ill-treatment, destroying objects,etc. Verbal ill-treatment: insulting, giving nicknames, scoffing, etc. Fights. Insolence and provocation. Vandalism against the institution, physical violence against material possessions, concerning school material and also the school building. Social ill-treatment: ignoring, excluding, etc. Mixed ill-treatment (physical and verbal): threatening with the objective of intimidating, blackmailing and bullying. Defining concepts Violent behaviours

The pupil’s personality The family context The socioeconomical environment The school institution Defining concepts Elements that have an influence on violence

Social context School context Interpersonnal context Person School violence context Bioecological Perspective (Bronfenbrenner, 1979, Bronfenbrenner et Morris, 1998). Defining concepts

Conflict Rubin, Pruitt y Hee Kim (1994) tell us that it is a “ perceived divergence of interests, or a science that the actual aspirations of the parts cannot be simultaneously reached”. Jares (1999) tells us that “it is a situation where the persons or social groups look for or perceive contrary objectives, they state antagonistic values or have different interests”.

CONFLICT INCOMPATIBILITY OF OBJETIVES, INTERESTS, NEEDS O VALUES BETWEEN PERSONS Emotions Feelings R e l a t i o n s

Attaining Peace (Galtung) Violencia directa Visible Invisible Structural Violence Cultural Violence RECONSTRUCTION, after direct violence RECONCILIATION, of the parts of the conflict RESOLUTION, of the underlying conflict

REACTIONS in presence of the conflict NEGATIVE VISION POSITIVE VISION -We don’t want to have any conflicts. We think it is something destructive. -The person and the problem mix. It makes worse the relation. -Problems are not talked about directly. -Problems are avoided. - One’s own opinions are the only valid ones. -It is an opportunity to change the situation when something doesn’t work. -We separate person and problem. The relation goes on. -We talk directly about the problems. -Problems are solved. - One’s own opinions are questioned.

Attitudes in presence of a conflict a) Competition (I win/ You lose) b) The adjustment/ submission (I lose/ You win) c) The evasion (I lose/you lose) d) The cooperation (I win/ You win) e) The negotiation. OBJECTIVES COMPETITION I win- You lose COOPERATION You win- I win EVASION You lose – I lose SUBMISSION I lose –You win Relation is not very important The relation is very important The Objectives are Very Important The Objectives are not very Important - + RELATION NEGOCIATION I half win- You half win

¿ What do we mean when we talk about CONVIVENCIA ? VALUES PEACE HUMAN RIGHTS PARTICIPATIONN DEMOCRACY ETHOS OF THE SCHOOL PACIFIC RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS COOPERATIVE WORK EDUCACIÓN FOR DEVELOPMENT TOLERANCE SOCIAL SKILLS.

Education for Peace Human Rights Pacific Resolution of Conflicts The conflict