What
does the word "mobbing" mean?
What's
the difference between mobbing and bullying?
Why do you have
information about SiteSell on mobbing.ca?
More to come...
We will be adding more FAQs soon.
If you have any questions about mobbing you would
like to see answered here please send
us an email.
What
does the word "mobbing" mean?
The word "mobbing" was
used by Professor Heinz Leymann, PhD, MD sci, to describe
a phenomenon he encountered while researching the
social dynamics of the workplace. The following definition
is from Professor Leymann's site, The
Mobbing Encyclopaedia.
Psychological terror or mobbing
in working life involves hostile and unethical communication
which is directed in a systematic manner by one
or more individuals, mainly toward one individual,
who, due to mobbing, is pushed into a helpless and
defenseless position and held there by means of
continuing mobbing activities. These actions occur
on a very frequent basis (statistical definition:
at least once a week) and over a long period of
time (statistical definition: at least six months´
duration). Because of the high frequency and long
duration of hostile behavior, this maltreatment
results in considerable mental, psychosomatic and
social misery. Thus, the definition does not focus
too much on the activities themselves, but rather
on the heavy mental strain.
In other words, the distinction
between "conflict" and "mobbing",
to emphasize the concept again, does not focus on
what is done or how it is done, but rather on the
frequency and duration of whatever is done.
The scientific definition of
the term mobbing thus refers to a social interaction,
through which one individual (seldom more than one)
is attacked by one or more (seldom more than four)
individuals on almost a daily basis and for periods
of many months, forcing the person into an almost
helpless position with a potentially high risk of
expulsion.
Note: Some of the worst cases of
mobbing go on for much longer periods of time and
can actually continue for many years.
The following is another good definition
of "mobbing" from Wikipedia.
Mobbing is a modern term for
systematic bullying, harassment, or psychological
terror in workplaces whereby one worker is "ganged
up" on and stigmatized by co-workers or superiors
for no justifiable reason. Research into the phenomenon
has been pioneered in the 1980s by Swedish scientist
Heinz Leymann who coined the term.
Mobbing is typically found
in work environments that have poorly organized
production and/or working methods and incapable
or inattentive management. According to [1], mobbing
victims are usually "exceptional individuals
who demonstrated intelligence, competence, creativity,
integrity, accomplishment and dedication".
A longer-established technical
use of mobbing is in the study of animal behaviour,
especially in ornithology, where it refers to the
behaviour of a number of smaller birds together
harassing a bird of prey that represents a threat
to them.
[1] Noa Davenport et al.,
Mobbing: Emotional Abuse in the American Workplace
(1999)
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What's
the difference between mobbing and bullying?
The word "bullying" is
generally used in the context of children abusing
other children in a manner that often has a physical
aspect. Due to laws, social constraints and company
policies, etc. adult bullies in the workplace are
forced to use more subtle tactics.
Mobbing usually does not
involve actual physical violence, although threats
of violence are used to intimidate and create mental
distress in the target. Mobbing is usually more of
a psychological or emotional terrorization occurring
in the workplace.
As such mobbing is also referred
to as "adult bullying", "workplace
bullying", "psychological harassment",
or "status-blind harassment". These various
phrases allude to three characteristics of mobbing:
usually mental rather than physical abuse, the "bullying"
is perpetrated by an adult against another adult,
and that this occurs in the workplace. The word "mobbing"
says all of this concisely.
When someone is being harassed
at work by a bully they are indeed being bullied.
If a bully harasses you for the first, the second
or the hundredth time you are certainly being bullied,
but you are not, necessarily, the target of a mobbing.
Mobbings occur in environments
conducive to their development. Like viruses they
need the right conditions to thrive. This usually
involves workplaces with poor management lacking in
conflict resolution skills and lacking in awareness
about mobbing and its consequences. Worse still are
workplaces where management knowingly utilizes mobbing
tactics as a means to eliminate staff in spite of
the, sometimes fatal, devastation it causes.
In a mobbing the bully will systematically
discredit their target to erode any support the target
may seek out later. Bullies slander their target's
reputation to anyone who will listen: co-workers,
management, union representatives.
A mobbing is this larger involvement
of the group. Management and unions withdraw support
and eventually participate in attacking the target
with as much enthusiasm as the (original) bully. Co-workers
are afraid for themselves and either look the other
way or actively participate. The group is set against
the individual. They are driven from the herd and
left to the hyenas.
Mobbing is a dysfunctional group
response to the abuse of one of its members. Rather
than address the abuse, the group instead seeks to
silence and destroy the messenger. It is like a disease
that causes the body's immune system to destroy healthy
parts of itself.
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Why
do you have information about SiteSell
on mobbing.ca?
Since
starting this website I have heard from many targets
of mobbing. I keep hearing the same story again and
again. Targets of mobbing are often terrified at the
prospect of going back to another workplace after
they have been through this experience. Those who
are still working in toxic environments are desperate
to get out but can't afford to lose their jobs. Unfortunately,
in most mobbing scenarios it is only a matter of time
before they are eliminated. I have lived through this
ordeal myself.
Considering that mobbing targets
are usually among the best employees there is incredible
potential for these people to offer their valuable
skills and passions to those who appreciate them --
but how?!
As many targets of mobbing do,
I began to panic about my financial future. Unemployed
and too young to retire, especially with no means,
what was I going to do? I began researching the idea
of starting a web based business so I could work from
home. But the internet is rife with hucksters and
fly-by-night scam artists. Each time I found something
that looked good I would search the net for bad things
about that company or program. Invariably I would
find websites and forums full of people who had been
ripped off.
Then I looked at a company called
SiteSell.
Their name kept coming up as a reputable one. I searched
for dirt on SiteSell. I couldn't find any. I searched
some more and still couldn't find any real red flags.
They weren't talking the usual
nonsense about getting rich quick, they were talking
about building a real business through honest effort.
They also talked about what it takes to succeed and
what they do to ensure you reach your goals. In short,
they seemed to actually care about the success of
their customers. For an overview watch
their Quick Tour Video here.
mobbing.ca
is not just about providing information about workplace
abuse, it is also about helping other targets overcome
the bullying and rebuild their lives. The possibility
of developing a real income, freeing us from toxic
workplaces is exciting. If you are still working,
start creating your business now so it is ready when
you decide it's time to quit or if you are fired.
If you are already unemployed you might have to take
another job to make ends meet, but start your business
as soon as you can so you have the option of getting
out if it turns out to be another bullyfest.
That's, in large part, what it's
about - freedom and options. The freedom to work from
home, the option to quit a bad job. That in itself
will make you less of a target for bullies as they
usually go after people who are vulnerable - people
who need their job. Heck, if you can find
a decent job and also have income from your online
business, so much the better.
That's why I decided to include
information about SiteSell and their Site Build-It!
tools on mobbing.ca. Have a look at the info and see
what you think.
Watch
the Quick Tour Video Here
All the Best, Wishing You
the Success You Deserve!
Anton Hout,
mobbing.ca
webmaster
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