ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that the nature of teacher output has an impact on the amount of bullying that occurs. In particular, it is hard to measure the quality and quantity of a teachers work, and this increases the importance of interpersonal relationships with both colleagues and superiors in performance appraisals. An imbalance of power and intense competition can increase the chances of bullying occurring. Interpersonal conflict among school teaching staff is quite common, particularly in situations where teachers are working in teams. A poor work environment does not cause bullying, but it can raise tensions and frustrations that make bullying more likely to occur. In some cases, it can increase negative emotions that spill over. In others, work design increases competition and interpersonal rivalry. A lot of research in Scandinavia has identified workplace factors that can increase the chances of bullying occurring, as explored'.
