Adult Bullying
in the
School Situation
Barra Ó Dochartaigh (Presenter)
Bríghid Cahalane (Chair)
What is Bullying?
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An abuse of power
Opportunistic predation on vulnerability
An accumulation of many small incidents
over a period of time
Forms include overwork, underwork,
exclusion, discrimination, trivialization of
contribution, assault, mobbing,
cyberbullying
Definition of Bullying
“Persistent, offensive, abusive, intimidating
or insulting behaviour, abuse of power or
unfair penal sanctions which makes the
recipient feel upset, threatened,
humiliated or vulnerable, which
undermines their self-confidence and
which may cause them to suffer stress.”
Amicus-MSF trade union
Bullying in Schools
Managers
Other
Staff
Other
Teachers
Teacher
Pupils
Parents
Understanding Bullies
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“All cruelty springs from weakness”
Seneca (4 BC – 65 AD)
Purpose is to hide own inadequacy
Aggressive but intelligent individual who
expresses their violence psychologically
1 in 30 fit the behaviour profile
Good managers manage, bad managers
bully
Targeting the Best
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Anyone can be a target, anything can be a
trigger
Target exhibits qualities lacking in bully
Bullies target intelligent, honest, creative,
competent, diligent, loyal, honourable,
trusting, tolerant, self-assured people
Bully uses these qualities to their own
advantage
The Bully at Work
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Obsessive, compulsive and manipulative
Inconsistent and impulsive
Recruits henchmen and keeps them close
Controls information and resources
Favours some, shuns other
Moves from one target to the next
How to spot a bully
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Sickness absence / staff turnover
Total breakdown in communication
Stress breakdowns/death in service
Early and/or ill-health retirements
Frequent use of disciplinary procedures
Grievances / legal proceedings initiated
Frequent suspensions and dismissals
Effects on Health
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Constant high levels of stress and anxiety
Poor concentration, indecisiveness
Frequent illness (e.g. colds, flus, etc.)
Insomnia
Tiredness, exhaustion, constant fatigue
Uncharacteristic irritability and angry outbursts
Forgetfulness, especially with trivial day-to-day matters
Low self-esteem / motivation, shattered self-confidence
Hypervigilance and hypersensitivity
Sweating, trembling, tearfulness, panic attacks
Reactive Depression, suicidal thoughts
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Are you being bullied?
Why don’t they fight back?
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Two stages: control and elimination
Transition occurs when target reacts
Climate of dysfunction and fear
Target disempowered through isolation,
exclusion and manipulation
Artificially high levels of shame, fear,
embarrassment and guilt
Fear of loss of job/income, no reference
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“Why me?”
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Grievance Procedures & PTSD
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Bullying is the psychological and emotional
equivalent of rape and leads to PTSD
Bully usually handles grievance
Bully has lots of manager friends
Bullies lie, cheat and deceive
Bully ensures process drags out
Bully/employer limit union representation
Bystanders and Bullying
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“He who passively accepts evil is as much
involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it”
Martin Luther King (1929 - 1968)
Implicit or explicit threats made by bully
Fear of reprisal
Denial is everywhere
Own problems, vulnerabilities
Don’t know how to respond
Bullying and Management
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Bullies abdicate responsibility
Bullies are amoral
Bullies plagiarize, take all the credit
Bullies promote their own, denigrate others
Bullies are behaviourally immature
Bullies are divisive and manipulative
No managers here . . .
www.bullyonline.com
“Those who can, do.
Those who can’t, bully”
Tim Field (1952-2006)
Founder, Bully OnLine
Carpe Diem!
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www.bullyonline.org (UK National Workplace Bullying
Advice Line website).
Field, F. (1996) Bully in Sight: How to predict, resist,
challenge and combat workplace bullying. Success
Unlimited.
Kinchin, D. (2004) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The
Invisible Injury . Success Unlimited.
Namie, G. & Namie, R. (2003) The Bully at Work: What
You Can Do to Stop the Hurt and Reclaim Your Dignity
on the Job, 2nd edition. Sourcebooks, Inc.