Module 2
When Good Intentions Reinforce Harm
Faculty often want to reassure students , while common and often well-intended, normalize difficulty, or encourage resilience.
However, certain responses can unintentionally silence students and reinforce unsafe dynamics.
Examples “adding fuel to the fire”:
“School just isn’t like it used to be. I’m not bending to those rules for my students.”
“That’s how my preceptor was and I got through it.”
“He should be glad I don’t treat him the way I was treated as a student.”
“This profession is tough. They need to learn how to handle it.”
1
They shift focus from the student's current experience to past norms
2
They frame harm as a rite of passage rather than a solvable problem
3
They signal that reporting concerns may lead to minimization or dismissal
4
They reinforce silence, even when behavior is escalating
Key Takeaway
Normalizing past harm does not build resilience.
It teaches students that speaking up is unsafe.
And the bullying statistics stay the same.
The cycle continues when silence is rewarded