ABSTRACT
Any individual who experiences workplace bullying, either as a ‘victim’ or as an observer, is left puzzled and confused as to how this happens. This chapter considers the evidence related to workplace bullying. It presents a position related to how environments can engender and sustain acts of bullying. The chapter also considers an action plan for dealing with workplace bullying based on published research. The modern history of our understanding of workplace bullying can be seen as beginning with Andrea Adams’ book Bullying at Work, published in 1992. While research has refined the positions that Andrea Adams outlined, her position remains valid in many ways. The central position in the early years of theorising about workplace bullying takes an unfortunate direction. While there may be some individuals with antisocial personality disorder who may appear in the workplace, there is no evidence that this is very common.
