Adult Adult BullyingBullying

in thein the

School School SituationSituation

BarrBarra Ó Dochartaigh a Ó Dochartaigh (Presenter)(Presenter)

BrBrííghid Cahalane (Chair)ghid Cahalane (Chair)

What is What is BBullying?ullying?

An abuse of powerAn abuse of power Opportunistic predation on Opportunistic predation on

vulnerabilityvulnerability An accumulation of many small An accumulation of many small

incidents over a period of time incidents over a period of time Forms include overwork, underwork, Forms include overwork, underwork,

exclusion, discrimination, exclusion, discrimination, trivialization of contribution, assault, trivialization of contribution, assault, mobbing, cyberbullyingmobbing, cyberbullying

Definition of BullyingDefinition of Bullying

““Persistent, offensive, abusive, Persistent, offensive, abusive, intimidating or insulting behaviour, intimidating or insulting behaviour, abuse of power or unfair penal abuse of power or unfair penal sanctions which makes the recipient sanctions which makes the recipient feel upset, threatened, humiliated or feel upset, threatened, humiliated or vulnerable, which undermines their vulnerable, which undermines their self-confidence and which may cause self-confidence and which may cause them to suffer stress.”them to suffer stress.”

Amicus-MSF trade unionAmicus-MSF trade union

Bullying in SchoolsBullying in Schools

OtherTeachers

Pupils Parents

OtherStaff

Managers

Teacher

Understanding Understanding BulliesBullies ““All cruelty springs from All cruelty springs from

weakness”weakness” Seneca (4 BC – 65 AD) Seneca (4 BC – 65 AD)

Purpose is to hide own Purpose is to hide own inadequacyinadequacy

Aggressive but intelligent Aggressive but intelligent individual who expresses their individual who expresses their violence psychologicallyviolence psychologically

1 in 30 fit the behaviour profile1 in 30 fit the behaviour profile Good managers manage, bad Good managers manage, bad

managers bullymanagers bully

Targeting the BestTargeting the Best

Anyone can be a target, anything Anyone can be a target, anything can be a triggercan be a trigger

Target exhibits qualities lacking in Target exhibits qualities lacking in bullybully

Bullies target intelligent, honest, Bullies target intelligent, honest, creative, competent, diligent, creative, competent, diligent, loyal, honourable, trusting, loyal, honourable, trusting, tolerant, self-assured peopletolerant, self-assured people

Bully uses these qualities to their Bully uses these qualities to their own advantageown advantage

The Bully at WorkThe Bully at Work

Obsessive, compulsive and manipulativeObsessive, compulsive and manipulative Inconsistent and impulsiveInconsistent and impulsive Recruits henchmen and keeps them Recruits henchmen and keeps them

closeclose Controls information and resourcesControls information and resources Favours some, shuns otherFavours some, shuns other Moves from one target to the nextMoves from one target to the next

How to spot a bullyHow to spot a bully

Sickness absence / staff turnoverSickness absence / staff turnover Total breakdown in communicationTotal breakdown in communication Stress breakdowns/death in serviceStress breakdowns/death in service Early and/or ill-health retirementsEarly and/or ill-health retirements Frequent use of disciplinary proceduresFrequent use of disciplinary procedures Grievances / legal proceedings initiatedGrievances / legal proceedings initiated Frequent suspensions and dismissalsFrequent suspensions and dismissals

Effects on HealthEffects on Health Constant high levels of stress and anxietyConstant high levels of stress and anxiety Poor concentration, indecisivenessPoor concentration, indecisiveness Frequent illness (e.g. colds, flus, etc.)Frequent illness (e.g. colds, flus, etc.) InsomniaInsomnia Tiredness, exhaustion, constant fatigueTiredness, exhaustion, constant fatigue Uncharacteristic irritability and angry outburstsUncharacteristic irritability and angry outbursts Forgetfulness, especially with trivial day-to-day Forgetfulness, especially with trivial day-to-day

mattersmatters Low self-esteem / motivation, shattered self-Low self-esteem / motivation, shattered self-

confidenceconfidence Hypervigilance and hypersensitivityHypervigilance and hypersensitivity Sweating, trembling, tearfulness, panic attacksSweating, trembling, tearfulness, panic attacks Reactive Depression, suicidal thoughtsReactive Depression, suicidal thoughts Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Are Are youyou being being bullied?bullied?

Why don’t they fight Why don’t they fight back?back? Two stages: control and eliminationTwo stages: control and elimination Transition occurs when target reactsTransition occurs when target reacts Climate of dysfunction and fearClimate of dysfunction and fear Target disempowered through Target disempowered through

isolation, exclusion and manipulationisolation, exclusion and manipulation Artificially high levels of shame, fear, Artificially high levels of shame, fear,

embarrassment and guiltembarrassment and guilt Fear of loss of job/income, no referenceFear of loss of job/income, no reference ““Why me?”Why me?”

Grievance Procedures & Grievance Procedures & PTSDPTSD Bullying is the psychological and Bullying is the psychological and

emotional equivalent of rape and leads emotional equivalent of rape and leads to PTSDto PTSD

Bully usually handles grievanceBully usually handles grievance Bully has lots of manager friendsBully has lots of manager friends Bullies lie, cheat and deceiveBullies lie, cheat and deceive Bully ensures process drags outBully ensures process drags out Bully/employer limit union Bully/employer limit union

representationrepresentation

Bystanders and Bystanders and BullyingBullying ““He who passively accepts evil is as He who passively accepts evil is as

much involved in it as he who helps to much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it”perpetrate it” Martin Luther King Martin Luther King (1929 - 1968)(1929 - 1968)

Implicit or explicit threats made by bullyImplicit or explicit threats made by bully Fear of reprisalFear of reprisal Denial is everywhereDenial is everywhere Own problems, vulnerabilitiesOwn problems, vulnerabilities Don’t know how to respondDon’t know how to respond

Bullying and Bullying and ManagementManagement Bullies abdicate responsibilityBullies abdicate responsibility Bullies are amoralBullies are amoral Bullies plagiarize, take all the creditBullies plagiarize, take all the credit Bullies promote their own, denigrate Bullies promote their own, denigrate

othersothers Bullies are behaviourally immatureBullies are behaviourally immature Bullies are divisive and manipulativeBullies are divisive and manipulative

No managers here . . .No managers here . . .

www.bullyonline.cowww.bullyonline.comm

Tim Field (1952-Tim Field (1952-2006)2006)

Founder, Bully OnLineFounder, Bully OnLine

““Those who can, do.Those who can, do.

Those who can’t, Those who can’t, bully”bully”

Carpe Diem!Carpe Diem!

www.bullyonline.org (UK National Workplace www.bullyonline.org (UK National Workplace Bullying Advice Line website).Bullying Advice Line website).

Field, F. (1996) Field, F. (1996) Bully in Sight: How to predict, Bully in Sight: How to predict, resist, challenge and combat workplace bullyingresist, challenge and combat workplace bullying. . Success Unlimited.Success Unlimited.

Kinchin, D. (2004) Kinchin, D. (2004) Post Traumatic Stress Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Invisible InjuryDisorder: The Invisible Injury . Success Unlimited. . Success Unlimited.

Namie, G. & Namie, R. (2003) Namie, G. & Namie, R. (2003) The Bully at Work: The Bully at Work: What You Can Do to Stop the Hurt and Reclaim What You Can Do to Stop the Hurt and Reclaim Your Dignity on the Job,Your Dignity on the Job, 2 2ndnd edition. Sourcebooks, edition. Sourcebooks, Inc.Inc.