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Bullying by aggressive and intimidating behaviour
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Bullying by intimidation/isolation
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Bullying by abuse of power/ignoring
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Bullying by abuse of power/exclusion
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Bullying by setting unrealistic targets that are unreasonable
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Bullying by deliberate withholding of information
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Harassment
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Bullying by humiliation/undermining/unfair criticism
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Bullying by abuse/misuse of power

Cognitive biases
‘when information processing is affected by a bias ... Then we are prone to react inappropriately’
Aaron T Beck
4

Attribution Theory
Fritz Heider
‘Lay scientist’ hypothesis
Attributions are the processes through which an observer infers the causes of others’ behaviour

We do not see the world as it is.
We see the world as we are.

2 kinds of attribution
Attribute another person’s behaviour to internal states
Attribute another person’s behaviour to their environment or circumstances

Fundamental Attribution Error
The strong tendency to overestimate dispositional factors and to underestimate situational factors

Explanations

Can it be corrected?

I see you – I make dispositionalat tributions
I don’t see me, but I know my internal states –
I make situational attributions
11

The Self-Serving Bias

Accuser Bias
Allred, p.85ff

Why is it a problem?
‘If you’re seated at the negotiating table in the absolute, unshakable conviction that your counterpart is a stubborn and difficult character, you are likely to act in ways that will trigger and worsen those very
behaviours’ (Lax & Sebenius, 2006, p.81)

Bullying and Harassment
Freeze perspectives at lowest moment
Accuser invited to rehearse their victimhood
Accused is labelled a bully
Accused must be mad or bad
Accuser gets no explanation or insight
Fight or flight the only options