Workplace Aggression: Bullying, Harassment, Mobbing, and Violence
Copyrighted April 5, 2016
There is an insidious problem existing in America that we can label “interpersonal aggression.” We hear it in the news all day, every day. We are not surprised to see it in the news. We see it as patriarchal abuse of women, race-related violence, and childhood sexual abuse occurring within our most “treasured” institutions.
We have come to almost expect such atrocities. But, we are significantly surprised when aggression happens to us. Even more surprising is when aggression occurs in our workplace, a place where we expect people to behave appropriately and to work out their problems with other people in a mature way or, at least, according to a “protocol.”
According to noted experts Drs. Gary and Ruth Namie (2009), targets of workplace aggression are not mentally ill; targets are selected due to superior competence or technical skill. Based on their research, they contend that targets of workplace aggression and bullying can and do experience damages to emotional-psychological health, social relations, and economic-financial well-being. Therapeutic help is available to those who seek it.
If you would like to educate yourself about workplace bullying, harassment, and violence, please research the following:
2) The Workplace Bullying Institute at www.workplacebullying.org.
3) The U.S. Academy of Workplace Bullying, Mobbing and Abuse at www.workplacebullying.org/academy.
4) “The Bully At Work,” by Gary Namie, PhD & Ruth Namie, PhD (2009, Sourcebooks, Illinois).
5) http://americansecurityis.com
If you would like to get involved in stopping this epidemic, please acquaint yourself with the Healthy Workplace Bill at www.healthy workplace bill.org. The Bill apparently has still not been introduced in Arizona. Please obtain a brochure about the Bill at www.healthyworkplacebill.org/m....
If you are a victim of workplace bullying, harassment, violence, mobbing and/or abuse, and you need psychological services to help you cope, please contact my office to see if there is a good fit between your needs and my services. 480.466.7010.