4.c. Workplace Bullying Flashcards
Workplace bullying
Harassment, social exclusion or offensive behaviour that negatively affects someone’s work tasks
4 Broad Features
Frequency
Persistence
Hostility
Power imbalance
Frequency
1-2 acts per week
Persistence
6-12 months
Hostility
Underlying negative behaviours
Power imbalance
Between target & perpetrator
Not just hierarchical power, can be social power
Individual-level antecedents
Target vs Perpetrator
Target antecedents
Vulnerable: introverted, highly agreeable
Provocative: extraverted, low agreeableness
General personality traits; high neuroticism, extroversion/introversion, low self-esteem, agreeableness
Negative affect - more likely to experience emotions relating to anxiety, sadness, fear & anger
More likely to be women, older & minority groups
Perpetrator
Males
High-strain jobs
Low autonomy
Bullied to bully cycle
Believing they can easily find another job
Group-level antecedents
Witnessing bullying behaviour can influence & change group norms - become accepting
Status inconsistency - one member is different, can either bully or be bullied
Situational - higher autonomy leads to more power = more power abuse
Organisational-level antecedents
Leadership & management styles - abuse of power, passive leadership, authoritarian
Rewarding competitive behaviours increases tension & bullying
Individual consequences
Psychological well-being
Physiological well-being
Suicide
Absenteeism
Intent to leave
Job satisfaction
Group consequences
Team effectiveness
Group norms
Organisational consequences
Organisational performance
Organisational culture
Societal consequences
Unemployment
Legal costs
Interpersonal relationships
