Kantelupukki kalkattaa
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: In this article, we examine the phenomenon of the code of silence within the context of school bullying in Finland. By the code of silence, we refer to a social norm that influences peer relationships among students, encouraging them to keep internal matters within the peer community. The article analyzes the emergence and development of this norm in 20th-century Finnish society and schools, explaining its cultural and historical layers that help to understand the social continuity of the norm. We utilize Bicchieri’s theory of social norms alongside institutional theory to explain how and why the code of silence has become entrenched and continues to affect contemporary school communities. As a result of this code, some bullying incidents are not brought to the attention of adults, negatively impacting bullying prevention efforts and student well-being. The aim of the study is to demonstrate that the code of silence remains a significant part of Finnish school culture, and that dismantling it requires institutional change.
Source: Kasvatus & Aika
DOI: 10.33350/ka.147869
Authors: Tomi Kiilakoski, Antti Malinen
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7223361896