The thesis focuses on the issue of peer violence in Slovenia as perceived, interpreted and responded to by the professionals at the Višnja Gora re-educational institution.
At the beginning of the theoretical part, definitions of peer violence are presented, as well as various influences, from biological, psychological to social, among which the authors are searching for causes of violent behaviour in individuals. This is followed by possible responses of society and practitioners in educational institutions to the phenomenon of violence. These responses can be expressed as zero tolerance towards violence, various treatment programmes and consultations, or establishment of restorative justice where the (correctional) educational meaning of mediation in educational institutions is explained in more detail. In the continuation are presented preventive activities to avoid peer violence. Preventive programmes are often more focused on the individual behaviour. However, for a successful prevention of peer violence it is important to add the influence of a wider social context and of person’s belonging to different social groups, such as gender, class, race, ethnicity, etc., since these social categories also cause specific forms of discrimination at the macro and micro levels. In the field of education and training, children with emotional and behavioural disorders are sent to re-educational homes, the role of which is therefore also presented in more detail at the end of the theoretical part.
The empirical part consists of the case study, the analysis of documentation, and six semi-structured interviews with professionals at the Višnja Gora re-educational institution. Based on these, it was possible to determine professionals’ definitions, possible causes and methods of resolving peer violence, the connection between their own beliefs and ways of managing this issue, and the differences which are visible in their understanding, interpretation and perception of the issue of peer violence based on the interviewee’s gender.
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