Origin and the development of the Shared Concern method (SCm)

In the 1980s Anatol Pikas developed  SCm. The paradigm for SCm is to see bullying as a conflict and treatment of it as  mediation. The adult mediator (teacher-therapist) starts by asking the individual bully suspects to explain their views about the social life in the classroom  of which also the alleged victim, is also part. The mediator reinforces emotions of concern for the other side in the conflict.

In the usual mediation procedure the both parties are normally present at the same time and start to explain "the issue of the conflict". This leads to parties coming up with accusations and denials or defense of own action becomes firmer and firmer. In SCm the mediator starts meeting the parties separately asking for their views.

The first description of the SCm, published  in a book in Swedish 1987 and in an article in School Psychology International Vol. 10 (1989), 95-104.)  confirmed that  practitioners of the Shared Concern method can disclose bullying behind the backs of the teachers without using informers. Testing the validity of the Shared Concern method in the treatment of group bullying
Such class discussions make a natural start for a new approach for "Whole School Policy" programs. A prerequisite for this is that they have grasped the core of the method and have practiced it.

The interesting thing is that many of the  followers of Pikas have understood his method half-a-way. It depends above all that it took time to express "the core" of the method clearly enough. 

It is apparent that the SCm, if properly used, has lifted the burden of bullying from many victims and met approval from new practitioners. Anatol Pikas has, however, observed  some users and  authors who have made some changes or additions to the "Pikas method" which reduce its long term effect. One of them has been that two or more adults are present in the talks with the individual bullies. An other is that talks with the group of suspected bullies after the individual talks has been omitted as preparing the final meeting between the victim and the bullies. In the worst cases they have even been counter productive.

Mass media nourish the picture of the evil bullies and poor victims. Demonizing the bullies  gives an emotional outlet in "firm treatment of the bullies". This could well hinder discovering bullying behind the backs of the teachers. The remedy is SCm. Testing the validity of the Shared Concern method in the treatment of group bullying
During the 90's Anatol Pikas was deepening the know-how of SCm in Swedish schools and holding workshops in UK and Australia which spread the practice of SCm as reported by the users. However, the understanding of "what makes it tick" was variable amongst  followers. In 1998 he published a new book in Swedish which is more sophisticated than his previous ones analyzing the differences between the proper Shared Concern approach and some variations amongst followers. 

This year an article about the variations amongst the followers will appear in School Psychology International: "New Developments of the Shared Concern method" Here is an abstract of this article accepted by the editors: