Bullying and Mobbing FAQ

Is Psychological Harassment Bullying or Mobbing? Are these the same?
Why do some websites use the word victim and others target?
How does Psychological Harassment affect workplace performance?
Are you providing information that people will use to target other people?

Is Psychological Harassment Bullying or Mobbing? Are these the same?

Their intention is similar but they don’t usually have the same definitions or scope. The definition or scope of some words used is also changing or the same word can have a different definition or scope in different laws or policies. Some words used are not as clear or obvious and can also be deceptive in a way.

Mobbing: Dr. Heinz Leymann (www.leymann.se), an industrial psychologist and medical scientist with an M.D. in psychiatry pioneered the research on MOBBING in Sweden in the early eighties. The Swedish government and people were the first to recognize the issue and create a law in 1994.

Bullying: The origin of bullying comes from a school yard bully that uses physical intimidation and aggressiveness on a weaker person.

The definitions of Mobbing and Bullying usually always include threats, intimidation, aggressive behavior, and verbal abuse but may not have all of the psychological or mental attributes that Psychological Harassment does.

In our opinion the meaning of the words Psychological Harassment is clear and obvious as to the fact that it deals with the mind (psychological). It is also clearly linked to other similar terms using the word psychological such as psychological abuse, psychological violence, and psychological torture. It is also clearly linked to the study or field of psychology. Psychology is usually the expertise of psychologists and psychiatrists. These two professions should have more knowledge of “harmful psychology”. How psychology harms or is used to harm others (physical and psychological effects) and why it can cause people to harm themselves or others physically.
(See the Words page)


Why do some websites use the word victim and others target?

We use the word victim because its definition is clear and obvious. It also implies that a type of crime has been committed against the person (psychological and physical effects). There is no shame or weakness in the word victim and there shouldn’t be any either.

The word target isn’t always clear as to what it implies and can be applied differently as well. It’s used in the sense that the person is a target but in a movie a bad person can also be a target. Some victims can mistakenly believe or be led to believe that what is happening to them is somehow their fault. There is no confusion about the word victim.

The meaning of the words victim and target are not the same.
 

How does Psychological Harassment or  Bullying and Mobbing affect workplace performance?

Psychological Harassment or Bullying and Mobbing can have different effects on the person's health (psychological and physical) and performance can be reduced due to their absences from work and also by their reduced capabilities when actually present for work. It can also be costly for many other medical reasons.

Psychological Harassment can also reduce collaboration and communication between colleges or teams and reduce their performance. Team members may actually try to sabotage each other.

A stressed person's cognitive abilities are reduced and they may not be as efficient at solving problems or issues.

An employee that is properly motivated and not highly stress by the use of threats or other factors out performs, short term and long term, an employee that is not properly motivated. An employee still has to reach or surpass performance objectives that are realistic.

Psychological Harassment can effect employee retention and increase training and recruitment costs.

A healthy work environment out performs one that isn't. There are many articles that claim that a happy employee out performs others.

An organizations reputation can be damaged for not being known as having a healthy environment and by different possible liabilities.
 

Are you providing information that people will use to target other people or victims?

Psychological Harassment can be unintentional or intentional.

When it’s unintentional the people involved need to understand how and why they are harming themselves in order to take preventive measures.

When it’s intentional the people using these tactics and Psychological Manipulations already have the knowledge and it’s the victim that usually does not have the information or support for help. The victim usually does not understand or is unable to explain how they are being stressed, manipulated, and harmed.

In order for workplace policies and laws to be created information is needed. If there is no information, documentation, and facts then it remains invisible. No measures are taken and there is no prevention.