Psychological Abuse At The Workplace

PROFILE OF A VICTIM

Interpersonal skills refers to the way the abuser and the target tend to communicate with those around them at work.  It also includes the way attitudes are communicated to others. 

Workstyle refers to the methods used for getting tasks completed at work.  This includes the individual worker’s preferred way of working as well as their preferred method of getting others to carry out tasks for them.

Insecurity refers to the concerns and emotional burdens carried by the abuser and the target during the time of the abuse.

Profile of the target of psychological abuse in the workplace

Category	Description
Interpersonal skills	attracts attention because people feel comfortable with them stands out from the group remains cautious, sensitive, and quiet in meetings and discussions listens attentively to other people’s ideas encourages others to share ideas and solutions to problems
Work style	is well qualified to be in the position has a proven successful track record prefers clear guidelines to aid independent work is keen to share new ideas offers clever, creative solutions to problems prefers reason and order prefers people to adhere to the rules within reason
Insecurity	suffering a temporarily vulnerability coping with life stresses outside work is new to the work group strives for acceptance, approval, and inclusion has limited prior experience with people who psychologically abuse others

Reproduced with the express permission of Robyn Mann (2000).

Return to Psychological Abuse In The Workplace by Robyn Mann