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An Eye for an Eye Will Make the Whole World Blind: Conflict Escalation into Workplace Bullying and the Role of Distributive Conflict Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Elfi Baillien

    (KU Leuven, Campus Brussels)

  • Jeroen Camps

    (KU Leuven)

  • Anja Van den Broeck

    (KU Leuven, Campus Brussels)

  • Jeroen Stouten

    (KU Leuven)

  • Lode Godderis

    (IDEWE, External Service for Prevention and Protection at work)

  • Maarten Sercu

    (IDEWE, External Service for Prevention and Protection at work)

  • Hans De Witte

    (KU Leuven
    North West University, Vanderbijlpark Campus)

Abstract

The current study investigated how work-related disagreements—coined as conflicts—relate to workplace bullying, from the perspective of the target as well as the perpetrator. We hypothesized a positive indirect association between task conflicts and bullying through relationship conflicts. This process accounted for both for targets and perpetrators of bullying. Targets are distinguished from perpetrators in our assumption that this indirect effect is boosted by distributive conflict behavior, being yielding for targets and forcing for perpetrators. Results in a large representative sample of the Flemish working population (N = 2,029) confirmed our hypotheses. Additionally, our study also revealed a direct effect from task conflicts to bullying in the analyses regarding the indirect as well as the conditional indirect effects. For perpetrators, both the indirect and direct relationships are moderated by forcing, underlining the importance of distributive conflict behavior particularly for the enactment of bullying behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Elfi Baillien & Jeroen Camps & Anja Van den Broeck & Jeroen Stouten & Lode Godderis & Maarten Sercu & Hans De Witte, 2016. "An Eye for an Eye Will Make the Whole World Blind: Conflict Escalation into Workplace Bullying and the Role of Distributive Conflict Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 137(2), pages 415-429, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:137:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-015-2563-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-015-2563-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pamela Lutgen‐Sandvik & Sarah J. Tracy & Jess K. Alberts, 2007. "Burned by Bullying in the American Workplace: Prevalence, Perception, Degree and Impact," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(6), pages 837-862, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Guglielmo Faldetta & Deborah Gervasi, 2024. "Escaping the Scapegoat Trap: Using René Girard’s Framework for Workplace Bullying," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 191(2), pages 269-283, May.
    2. Jeremy D. Mackey & Jeremy R. Brees & Charn P. McAllister & Michelle L. Zorn & Mark J. Martinko & Paul Harvey, 2018. "Victim and Culprit? The Effects of Entitlement and Felt Accountability on Perceptions of Abusive Supervision and Perpetration of Workplace Bullying," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(3), pages 659-673, December.
    3. Pascale Desrumaux & Nicolas Gillet & Caroline Nicolas, 2018. "Direct and Indirect Effects of Belief in a Just World and Supervisor Support on Burnout via Bullying," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, October.

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