Approaching hate speech through behavioral education - suggested systemic perspective
Adriana Zaiţ · 2022
The present study, exploratory in nature, aims to present an analysis of hate speech reasons through those for hate in general, and suggest a potential approach for dealing with hate speech from an early educational time, through a systemic perspective meant to change behaviors. We start from the premise that fake news and hate speech are closely intertwined, with mutual determinacy (hate speech influences fake news transmission and received fake news further stimulate hate speech) and many similar consequences in terms of confusion, lack of trust, inappropriate behaviors and crises’ sharpening effects. Once we know the reasons for which people hate, we are able to work on those causes, and stop or at least diminish the problem, and not just the symptoms. It is an exploratory study, with a literature review type analysis for hate, in general and hate speech in particular, followed by a pilot survey on a small sample of students and then a suggested educational behavioral approach for diminishing hate related behaviors. We suggest three disciplines for the educational content – intercultural management, interdisciplinary education and critical thinking – together with three system changes – collaborative, second-order type of change, rethinking of students’ and professors’ assessments and building of well-being frameworks.