Dealing With Rule-Breakers: Banishment’s Lure and Its Limits
When a stranger breaks the rules in a scary way, it is always tempting to banish them.
This old-fashioned word might suggest disgraced medieval nobles driven from of their kingdoms. But banishment occurs whenever a person is cast out from what used to be their home or social group.
A few examples of modern-day banishment:
- Expelling high school students who have committed acts of violence is a straightforward way to show “zero tolerance” for their misbehaviour. Doing so is often welcomed by other students and parents who have suffered from the misbehaviour.
- If unhoused people are or might