The Knowledge Bully

The knowledge bully is a bully with the full armor of mastery at their disposal ready to fill in the gaps and to use a one-up-person-ship to gain the advantage over others. The knowledge bully may hide information and silo communication rather than share and collaborate with others. Unmet needs fueled by low self-esteem and self-concept are the catalysts for creating knowledge bullies, and toxic work environments inhibit the healing and growth needed for these bullies to assimilate with other work teams again. Detoxifying work environments begin with the mission and values of the organization and an in-depth look at the reward and recognition systems. -Dr. Stewart pictureyourselfstronger@yahoo.com

The Bystander Effect

 

Managers and administrators need to lift their gaze above the bullying event to determine the damage or aftermath of the bully event. For example, are employee survey ratings poor or perhaps avoided altogether? An analysis of the social environments in the workplace and participation rates in team-building and collaborative projects in the workplace will be another factor that might indicate that the organization has more bystanders than initially thought. The bystander effect suggests that the more witnesses there are concerning an emergency or adverse event, the less likely individuals will step forward and help. When a bully is left unchecked, bystanders feel that their intervention would be too costly on a personal level or so insignificant to promote change that the stress of remaining an apathetic bystander is considered a necessary tradeoff. The longer the situation goes without healthy organizational culture change, the more toxic and unstable the work environment will become.

When Bystanders are Quiet

 

 

 When bystanders are quiet, there are usually underlying threats that keep individuals and groups from stepping up to help or report bullying and abuse. In the case of children who cannot speak for themselves, some bystanders may feel threatened or even benefit by not intervening and will only do so if there is a chance that others will report the abuse.

When bystanders are quiet and not involved in the abuse or bullying of adults or children, fear or uncertainty may be why. However, in the presence of a bully, the behavior of the victim and the bystander goes beyond apathy to fear-based responses. According to Dr. Albrecht, there are five common fears among humans.

 Fear Types:

 (1) fear of extinction,

 (2) fear of body mutilation or invasion,

 (3) loss of autonomy,

 (4) fear of separation, abandonment, or rejection,

 (5) ego-death or fear of humiliation, shame, or worthlessness.

 Since bullying is a systemic problem, the diffusion of responsibility to not intervene or report bullying behavior becomes rationalized because of the fears embedded in the culture. 

Debra Stewart, Psy.D. Organizational Psychologist Specializing in Health and Wellness

 

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Finding the Good in the Workplace Bully

The Peaceful Protester's Dilemma

There are similarities and differences between peaceful protesters and angry mobs or rioters. A peaceful protester and an angry, riotous mob are similar in that they symbolize a system that fails to address and hear unaddressed needs. However, the two groups differ in that riotous mobs act with the intent to harm, while peaceful protesters march without harming others to be heard. When the two groups merge, a new system problem emerges, forming a triad of bullies, victims, and bystanders. In this group, bullies lead the aggressive acts, victims feel punished, and bystanders are held responsible for the bullies' coercive power. Unfortunately, neither group is fully heard, and unmet needs persist. While rioting and protesting sometimes produce partial results, the question becomes, is it the most efficient use of talent to achieve change that results in being heard and unmet needs being addressed? -Dr. Stewart                

                                                     

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Social Distancing and the Bully

Social distancing is a unique situation that might reduce bully-type behaviors from individuals who may prey on the marginalized. Without an audience or the rewards found in social groups, the bully may seek other ways to satisfy their unhealthy unmet needs and drives. However, there are bully personalities who thrive on microaggression and covert methods to maintain an imbalance of power when separated from their target. When individuals are advised to practice social distancing, the bystander becomes essential as they can be the protective shield from bully-type behaviors by using the approved distance communication methods to stay in touch with those who are quarantined or practicing social distancing. The bystander might be a neighbor, family member, coworker, or other agency helpers who can listen, advise, and report the abuse of the marginalized in isolation.

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Mass Shooters and Psychopathy

Mass Shootings are terrifying and are changing our culture to one of confusion-based fear. As a society, we have not begun to identify why mass shootings occur in our nation. It is easy to place the blame on guns or violent video games, or the moral decay of the family. However, a mass shooter is an individual who has specific motives and intentions to harm others. The justification for hurting others may not be relevant to anyone but the shooter.

Psychopathy is often used to describe mass shooters. However, psychopathy is a spectrum disorder with a wide range of linked conditions that describe various symptoms and traits. Psychopathy is challenging to diagnose and treat because mass shooters are calloused and without the same ability to experience pleasure and recognition from established societal values and reward systems.