ABSTRACT
In spite of the fact that workplace cyberbullying is a concern for organizations across the globe, little to no research has been conducted on the role that culture plays in the phenomenon. The purpose of this chapter is to stimulate cross-cultural research on work-related cyberbullying by (1) reviewing literature on cultural differences in workplace bullying, (2) reviewing literature on cultural differences in computer-mediated communication that are particularly relevant for understanding cyberbullying, and (3) discussing the implications of these two lines of research for understanding workplace cyberbullying across cultures. We start by reviewing research that has examined the nature, prevalence, and outcomes of workplace bullying across different cultures. Then, we review research and theory on cultural variables that show promise for understanding aggression in computer-mediated communication (namely, the high- vs. low-context distinction and cultural differences in the concept of face). Finally, we put forth a model of cultural influences on workplace cyberbullying based on sender-message-receiver models of communication.
