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Double Victimization in the Workplace: Why Observers Condemn Passive Victims of Sexual Harassment

Author

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  • Kristina A. Diekmann

    (David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112)

  • Sheli D. Sillito Walker

    (Marriott School of Management, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602)

  • Adam D. Galinsky

    (Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208)

  • Ann E. Tenbrunsel

    (Mendoza School of Business, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556)

Abstract

Five studies explore observers' condemnation of passive victims. Studies 1 and 2 examine the role of observers' behavioral forecasts in condemning passive victims of sexual harassment. Observers generally predicted that they would engage in greater confrontation than victims typically do. More importantly, the more confrontation participants predicted they would engage in, the more they condemned the passive victim, and the less willing they were to recommend the victim for a job and to work with her. Study 3 identifies the failure to consider important motivations likely experienced by victims—and that contribute to their passivity—as an important driver of behavioral forecasting errors. Having forecasters reflect on motivations normally experienced but not typically forecast produced behavioral predictions that were more consistent with the actual passive behavior of sexual harassment victims. Studies 4 and 5 reduce condemnation of passive sexual harassment victims by highlighting important motivations likely experienced by those victims (Study 4) and by having participants recall a past experience of not acting when being intimidated in the workplace, a situation related but distinct from sexual harassment (Study 5). The results from these studies add insights into the causes and consequences of victim condemnation and help explain why passivity in the face of harassment—the predominant response—is subject to so much scorn.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristina A. Diekmann & Sheli D. Sillito Walker & Adam D. Galinsky & Ann E. Tenbrunsel, 2013. "Double Victimization in the Workplace: Why Observers Condemn Passive Victims of Sexual Harassment," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(2), pages 614-628, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:24:y:2013:i:2:p:614-628
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1120.0753
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Van Boven, Leaf & Loewenstein, George & Dunning, David, 2005. "The illusion of courage in social predictions: Underestimating the impact of fear of embarrassment on other people," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 96(2), pages 130-141, March.
    2. Pfeffer, Jeffrey, 2010. "Building Sustainable Organizations: The Human Factor," Research Papers 2017r, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
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    Cited by:

    1. Raj, Medha & Wiltermuth, Scott S., 2022. "Better now than later: The social cost of victims’ delayed accusations," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    2. Amir Karami & Melek Yildiz Spinel & C. Nicole White & Kayla Ford & Suzanne Swan, 2021. "A Systematic Literature Review of Sexual Harassment Studies with Text Mining," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-24, June.

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