NFL Locker Room a Microcosm of Society at Large

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross

Reference: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross calls Ted Wells report 'disturbing'.

Bullying: What happened in the locker room is just a sampling of what happens in broader society. "Disturbing," definitely, Mr. Ross.  

The pull for the NFL and the front office of every team is to set stricter policy, police and enforce it, and otherwise castigate any perpetrator of bullying in the locker room.  Yes, bullying must be stopped.  But for the NFL to use its considerable might in its efforts to do so makes me think Are you kidding me, seriously?

Bullying or tormenting, prejudice and discrimination, and flat out hate and misconduct are the stuff of American culture and humankind in general.  So as with sports leagues and regulatory bodies' efforts to tamp out the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs, officials can control it only to some degree.  Unless the fundamental problem is adequately understood, and its causes sufficiently illuminated, it will persist and it will taunt any posturing of control that these officials do.    

Don't get me wrong: I believe policy must be reviewed, strengthened, and implemented.  But to believe, and expect, that it will resolve the issue is foolhardy.  These social problems have plagued American culture for decades and decades, so don't expect that the NFL will break from this long stretch of failure and suddenly be the paradigm of a tolerant, accepting organization.  

I suggest that each team promote dialogue among its players, coaches and personnel, and that the NFL provide whatever support and encouragement it can, in this effort.  This is not an easy thing, so teams are likely to need to confident, capable facilitators in that dialogue.  

The aim, first and foremost, is to seek to understand, before being understood.  Allow people's concerns, beliefs, attitudes and motives to surface.  

From that understanding, answers to how these issues can be resolved will emerge.  Misbehavior can be addressed accordingly within the private confines of each team's circle, again with NFL guidance and support.  

This will take a long time, and no doubt progress toward a more tolerant organization will be quite rocky.  For example, expect that the Incognito-Martin scandal will not be the last one.  

But the right mindset and approach will eventually resolve such issues.  

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD