Workplace violence can be directed towards various targets within an organization. These include individuals, such as coworkers and supervisors, as well as inanimate objects like company property.

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Workplace violence is any workplace act or threat involving physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening or disruptive behavior. It can range from verbal abuse and threats to physical assault and homicide.

Workplace Violence

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual conduct, including sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when it explicitly or implicitly affects employment, unreasonably interferes with work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.

Sexual Harassment

Targets of Workplace Violence

Acts of workplace violence are frequently preceded by identifiable warning signs. These indicators can include intimidating behavior, explicit threats, sabotage of equipment, or noticeable and radical shifts in a coworker's behavior.

Warning Signs of Workplace Violence

Workplace violence often follows a progressive pattern, where initial acts of intimidation can intensify over time if not addressed. This escalation can lead to increasingly severe and dangerous behaviors.

Escalation Pattern in Workplace Violence

To mitigate risks and prevent escalation, it is essential for employees to report any instances where they feel intimidated or unsafe. The recommended course of action is to inform their immediate supervisor of the situation.

Reporting Workplace Intimidation and Unsafe Conditions

Murder is the second leading cause of death in the workplace overall. It is also the primary cause of workplace death for women.

Workplace Homicide Statistics

The scope of workplace violence extends beyond fatalities, with nearly two million workers in the United States being physically assaulted or threatened with assault each year.

Prevalence of Workplace Assault

Workplace violence is often an extension of domestic disputes. A substantial number of workplace homicides, particularly those involving women, are committed by the victim's partner, such as a boyfriend or husband, who targets them at their place of employment.

Intersection of Domestic and Workplace Violence

One significant trigger for workplace violence is feeling treated unfairly, unjustly, or disrespectfully.

Perceived Injustice as a Trigger for Workplace Violence

A 1999 study by Greenberg and Barling investigated predictors of workplace violence, emphasizing that a comprehensive understanding requires considering the specific target of the aggression, as well as the characteristics of both the aggressive individual and the workplace itself.

Greenberg & Barling (1999) Study on Predictors of Workplace Violence

A key contribution of industrial-organizational psychology is conducting extensive research into the triggers and causes of workplace violence and safety issues. The goal of this research is to enable organizations to create proactive procedures for identifying and mitigating these risks.

I-O Psychology Research on Workplace Violence

An instance of workplace violence that occurred on September 16, 2013, at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, DC. The perpetrator, 34-year-old Aaron Alexis, killed 12 people. Alexis had a documented history of mental health issues, including delusions that he was being controlled by radio waves and monitored by unknown forces.

Washington Navy Yard Shooting (2013)

Research suggests that mental disorders are not a necessary or sufficient cause of violent behavior. While individuals who commit violent acts, such as the Washington Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis, may have a mental illness, this is not considered the primary determinant of their actions.

Relationship Between Mental Illness and Violence

According to research, the primary predictors of violence are not psychological but rather socio-demographic and socio-economic. Key factors identified include being young, male, and belonging to a lower socio-economic class.

Socio-Demographic and Socio-Economic Factors in Violence

Read the following scenario. Analyze the interactions between the employees and identify which specific actions or statements constitute workplace violence. Justify your analysis by explaining how each identified behavior fits the definition of disruptive, harassing, intimidating, or threatening conduct in a work environment.

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