A Discussion of Responses to Cases of Bullying:

From the Perspective of the Pragmatics of Human Communication

Abstract

　　This study describes examples of cases of bullying that I dealt with using a systems approach while working as a school counselor. This study also discusses the practical psychotherapeutic use of the perspective of the pragmatics of communication to deal with cases of bullying.

　　The following 3 strategies were effective at resolving the problem of bullying. Strategy 1: Rather than focusing only on the literal wording of a child's complaint that he or she was being bullied, the child’s complaint is reconsidered as what the child wants in terms of “what would you like to be done and to whom.” Strategy 2: Ascertaining the problem in terms of the wishes and relationships of the children and adults involved in a case of bullying intervening in the interaction that led to a vicious cycle involving the bully and victim. Strategy 3: Reconceiving the problem from the perspective of the needs and relationships of the individuals in a case of bullying rather than simply as a case of “bullying” and determining potential responses by teachers.

　　The context of bullying hampers a response because of increased sensitivity to whether or not bullying occurred and who was the victim. The pragmatics perspective allows an escape from this context. This perspective also facilitates responses by adults who are involved in encouraging a child's development, i.e. improving one’s social skills. In closing, this work mentions strategies for responses by school counselors in the field of school clinical psychology.