NCJ Number
171754
Journal
Journal of Emotional Abuse Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (1998) Pages: 85-117
Date Published
1998
Length
33 pages
Annotation
A review of research literature on emotional abuse in the workplace concluded that emotional abuse is hard to describe, but its nature is open to systematic investigation, although the studies to date are limited methodologically and conceptually.
Abstract
Violence and harassment in the workplace have received substantial public and research attention in the past decade. Most attention has focused on the more extreme forms of physical violence such as homicide, as well as, to a lesser degree, sexual and racial harassment in the workplace. However, recent surveys of workplace suggests that another form of violence, emotional abuse, is more frequent, has similar effects as physical, sexual, and racial violence, and yet appears to be more socially acceptable. Emotional abuse refers to the hostile verbal and nonverbal behaviors that are not explicitly tied to sexual or racial content yet are directed at gaining compliance from others. Examples of these behaviors include yelling, screaming, using derogatory names, the silent treatment, withholding necessary information, aggressive eye contact, negative rumors, explosive outbursts of anger, and ridiculing someone in front of others. Research currently is limited due to its lack of a coherent definition of the concept, the reliance on non-validated measures of effects and responses, a limited range of methodologies, and self-selected samples. Developing a typology of emotionally abusive behaviors relies heavily on how these behaviors are measured. In addition, factors that are relevant in any model of emotional abuse at work that have not yet been considered in any depth in the workplace abuse literature include the target's response to the abusive behaviors, the antecedent conditions of emotional abuse. Tables and 55 references (Author abstract modified)