Copying with Bullying as an Intractable Organizational Conflict

29 Pages Posted: 30 Mar 2008

See all articles by Herminia Munoz-Flores

Herminia Munoz-Flores

Andalusion School of Public Health

Lourdes Munduate Jaca

University of Seville - Department of Social Psychology

Francisco J. Medina

University of Seville - Department of Social Psychology

Jose Guerra

Universidad San Pablo CEU

Date Written: 2007

Abstract

This study's objective is to approach bullying as an asymmetric and relational conflict. In other words, a conflict where there is a great power imbalance between the affected parties, and where emotional and relational problems exist. First, we analyse the link between relational conflict and bullying, and secondly we try to verify whether the strategies that have shown their worth for handling relational conflict may also be used to cope with bullying. Results show that the presence of high relational conflicts and high positional power are related with the presence of bullying practices. In a similar way to what occurs with management strategies in intractable conflicts, integrating behaviours with the opponent increase practices of workplace bullying, while avoiding behaviours are related to a lower presence of these practices. Findings also confirm that a climate of support within the group is related with a lower presence of bullying practices. The study analyses the implications of these findings for coping with bullying in the organisational setting.

Keywords: Bullying, Organisational Conflict

Suggested Citation

Munoz-Flores, Herminia and Munduate Jaca, Lourdes and Medina Díaz, Francisco José and Guerra, Jose, Copying with Bullying as an Intractable Organizational Conflict (2007). IACM 2007 Meetings Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1111625 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1111625

Herminia Munoz-Flores

Andalusion School of Public Health ( email )

Spain

Lourdes Munduate Jaca

University of Seville - Department of Social Psychology ( email )

Camilo Jose Cela s/n
Sevilla, 41018
Spain

Francisco José Medina Díaz (Contact Author)

University of Seville - Department of Social Psychology ( email )

Camilo Jose Cela s/n
Sevilla, 41018
Spain

Jose Guerra

Universidad San Pablo CEU

Issac Peral, 58
28040 Madrid, 28003
Spain

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
298
Abstract Views
1,906
Rank
186,149
PlumX Metrics