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Mobbing: Personal, workplace or public health problem?

Prof.dr.sc. Gordana Pavleković, dr. med.

Škola narodnog zdravlja “Andrija Štampar”Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu

gpavleko@snz.hr

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Definition of mobbing

“The joint attacks of small group of animalstoward to a big animal to defence themselves”(Lorenz K, 1960)“Mobbing starts as an individual activity but rapidly attracts other birds and becomes a group action” (Ehlrich et al, 1999)“Mobbing includes an emotional and psychological terror, infecting other people and conducted as a campaign” (Leymann, 1993)

Definition of mobbing

“Mental, hostile and unethical communication bywhich one or more persons terrorise the victimwith the aim to destroy and remove the personfrom his/her work (Groeblinghoff and Backer, 1996).“The presence of systematic, directed, unethicalcommunication and antagonistc behaviour by one or more individuals” (Yildrim A et al, 2007.)

Definition of mobbing

“Social and medical phenomenon in working environment, where mobbers demonstrate their power and agressiveness, just because they themselves are rather unstablepersonalities” (Josipović Jelić et al, 2005)

Five reasons for mobbingdevelopment (Leymann, 1994)

Psychology of mobbers;Structure and culture of organization;Psychological situation and personality of the victim(s);Social values and norms;Any conflict or disagreement as a motive for mobbing.

Causes of mobbing

Work organizationPoor conflict managementPersonality theories

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Actors in mobbing process

Mobber(s)Mobbee(s)Witnesse(s)

Mobbing – the cumulative group activity

Indicators of mobbing

The way of communicationThe attack on social relationships of an individualThe attack on respect and reputation of an individualThe attack on the quality of private and business life of an individualDirect attack on the health of an individual

Mobbing characteristicsThe victim cannot say anything because she/he is frequentlyinterrupted in speach;The victim is ignored and others behave as if she/he does not exist;The victim is excluded from social life at work („forgotten“)The victim is transferred to an office distant from the workingrooms of other colleagues;The victim is exposed to criticism;The victim is being accused of failures that have not actuallyhappened;The victim is denied important information;The victim is being ridiculed for her/his way of speaking, clothes, look, private life etc.She/he is controlled for being at work more or less than normal, etc.

Phases in mobbing development

ConflictAggresive attacksInvolvement of the managementFight for survivalExplosion of mobbing

Vertical (55%) vs. Horizontal (45%) mobbing(Davenport et al, 1999)

Consequences

Physical disordersEmotional disordersBehavioural disordersSocial disorders

Gender role and mobbing

76% males were mobbed by male colleagues;3% males were mobbed by female colleagues;21% males were mobbed by both;

40% females were mobbed by females;30% females were mobbed by males;30% were mobbed by both.

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Prevalence

3,5% of Sweden labour force (4,5 millionworkers) became a mobbing victims;11% of workers in Europe are being mobbing;53% of labour forces in UK was subjected to mobbing;78% were witnesses of mobbing in UKOver 4 million people yearly are or may becomevictimised by mobbing in USAOne out of every four employees could be thevictim of mobbing

Mobbing in different sectors

Teachers, social workers and healthcareworkers are more exposed to mobbingMobbing occurs more in non-profit that in private organizationsPeople whose jobs need cooperation withothers are less likely to be mobbed

Mobbing in academicand healthcare society

12-25% academic staff were subjected to mobbing (Boyton, 206)

75% physicians were exposed to mobbingand 26% were exposed to persistantmobbing (Pranjić et al, 2006)

Mobbing in Croatia

Priority: Domestic violenceMobbing as a problem since 2002Association for help and education of victims of mobbing

Mobbing? How to swim with sharks?

Friendly sharks do not exist;Counter any aggresionpromptly;Disorganize organized attack;Do not bleed if you are hurt or injured;Do not swim if you do notknow how to swim.

Cousteau V. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 1987; 30 (4): 486-89.

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Postnubilaphoebus!