A Transformative Approach to Prevent Peer Violence in Schools

Abstract

The damaging consequences of school violence affect many children and society at large. An important part of it remains undetected by many professionals. Gender also significantly influences many conflicts that are perceived only as peer violence. To provide real solutions that can succeed in preventing violence, European researchers have used communicative methodology. This transformative research approach was implemented in a study conducted in three Spanish schools, two primary and one secondary. This article presents a dialogic model for school violence prevention and describes a procedure that encourages significant community involvement. We argue that this model’s dialogic approach to school violence prevention relies on some key principles from communicative methodology: overcoming an interpretative hierarchy and reaching consensus. This article demonstrates how the transformative approach of communicative methodology can be transferred to develop effective models of violence prevention.