Why People Bully Their Colleagues: The Psychological Profile of a Workplace Bully

Abstract

It is time now to take a detailed look at the people who use bullying behavior at work. In this chapter we will:

• Examine why people start to bully their colleagues.

• Identify a range of intrapersonal factors which can result in a person becoming a workplace bully.

• Consider a range of factors that people who use bullying behavior cite to justify their behavior.

• Identify some of the euphemisms and excuses bullies – and some of their colleagues – use to reduce their behavior to something more acceptable.

• Take a look at why it is that some bullies can inspire other colleagues to join in their campaign against selected individuals.