Perceptions of and reactions to workplace bullying: A social exchange perspective

The aim of this article is to introduce a social exchange perspective to the study of workplace bullying. Much of the existing research on bullying has had a strong empirical focus, leaving the concept relatively under-theoretized. By applying the social exchange theory based concepts of justice, ps...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human relations (New York) 2010-06, Vol.63 (6), p.761-780
Main Authors: Parzefall, Marjo-Riitta, Salin, Denise M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggression
Bullying
Bystanders
Concepts
Contracts
Exchange Theory
Harassment
Human relations
Justice
Organization Theory
Organizational behaviour
Organizational culture
Organizational support
Psychological Theories
Social exchange
Social exchange theory
Social Justice
Sociology
Sociology of work
Sociology of work and sociology of organizations
Work environment
Work organization. Working relations
Working conditions
Workplaces
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Summary:The aim of this article is to introduce a social exchange perspective to the study of workplace bullying. Much of the existing research on bullying has had a strong empirical focus, leaving the concept relatively under-theoretized. By applying the social exchange theory based concepts of justice, psychological contract breach, and perceived organizational support, we aim to shed light on a number of aspects of bullying that to date have remained poorly understood. First, drawing on the concepts of justice and contract breach, we highlight the perceptual and subjective element in workplace bullying. Second, the concepts of justice and contract breach allow us to provide insights into how bullying is experienced and the mechanisms through which bullying leads to negative outcomes for both targets and bystanders. Third, the concept of perceived organizational support highlights the importance of appropriate and timely responses to workplace bullying. Finally, we discuss implications for both research and practice.
ISSN:0018-7267
1741-282X
DOI:10.1177/0018726709345043