Psychological harassment, also known as moral harassment or mobbing, is a complex phenomenon that can have devastating consequences on the mental and emotional health of the people who suffer it. It is characterized by a pattern of hostile and abusive behavior that is repeated systematically and for a long time, with the aim of destabilizing the victim and damaging their self-esteem. This type of harassment can manifest itself in various areas of life, such as work, school, family or social.
What is psychological harassment?
Psychological harassment is defined as persistent and deliberate behavior that aims to create an intimidating, humiliating or degrading environment for the harassed person. This type of abuse can take different forms, such as constant criticism, disqualification, social exclusion, the spread of false rumors, emotional manipulation or the assignment of tasks that are impossible to complete.
Psychological harassment can take different forms. be carried out by an individual person or a group of individuals, and is usually motivated by the desire for power, control or revenge. The victim of bullying is subjected to chronic stress that can affect their physical and mental health, as well as their performance at work or in school.
What are the warning signs of psychological bullying?
Identifying psychological harassment can be complicated, since abusive behaviors are usually subtle and accumulate over time. However, there are some warning signs that may indicate that a person is being a victim of psychological harassment. These signs can manifest themselves in different ways and in different contexts, but it is important to pay attention to them and act accordingly.
22 warning signs of psychological bullying
1. Constant criticism and disqualifications
The harasser usually disproportionately and constantly criticizes the victim's work, appearance or personality, with the aim of undermining their self-esteem and generating insecurity.
2. Social exclusion
The victim is marginalized or deliberately excluded from social, professional or family activities, which can generate isolation and loneliness.
3. Spreading false rumors
The stalker spreads false or malicious information about the victim in order to discredit her and create a negative image of her in the eyes of others.
4. Emotional manipulation
The stalker uses emotional manipulation techniques to control the victim, such as guilt, shame or emotional blackmail.
5. Assignment of impossible tasks
The victim is assigned tasks that are impossible to accomplish or is burdened with an excessive workload, with the aim of generating failures and a feeling of incompetence.
6. Public mockery and humiliation
The harasser mocks, ridicules or humiliates the victim in public, with the purpose of embarrassing and denigrating him or her in front of others.
7. Sudden changes in behavior
The victim experiences sudden changes in behavior, such as irritability, anxiety, depression or sleep problems, as a result of psychological harassment.
8. Loss of self-esteem
The victim experiences a decrease in self-esteem and self-confidence, due to constant criticism and disqualification by the harasser.
9. Appearance of physical symptoms
Psychological bullying can manifest itself through physical symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal problems, muscle tension or chronic fatigue, due to the stress and anxiety generated by the bullying situation.
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10. Changes in work or academic performance
The victim experiences a decrease in their work or academic performance, as a result of the stress and pressure generated by psychological harassment.
11. Difficulties in interpersonal relationships
The victim experiences difficulties in relating to others, as a consequence of the emotional manipulation and social exclusion to which she is being subjected by the harasser.
12. Feeling of helplessness
The victim feels defenseless and helpless in the face of psychological harassment, without finding a way out of the abusive situation in which they find themselves.
13. Increased stress and anxiety
Psychological bullying generates a state of chronic stress and anxiety in the victim, which can manifest itself through symptoms such as nervousness, muscle tension or problems falling asleep.
14. Changes in mental health
The victim may experience changes in their mental health, such as symptoms of depression, anxiety, anguish or panic attacks, as a result of psychological harassment.
15. Loss of interest in activities that they previously enjoyed
The victim loses interest in activities that were previously pleasurable or satisfying, as a consequence of the stress and pressure generated by the harassment situation.
16. Feeling of mistrust towards others
The victim develops a feeling of mistrust towards others, as a result of the emotional manipulation and social exclusion to which they are being subjected by the harasser.
17. Social isolation
The victim isolates himself socially and avoids contact with other people, as a consequence of the marginalization and social exclusion to which he is being subjected by the harasser.
18 . Unjustified feeling of guilt
The victim experiences an unjustified feeling of guilt, as a consequence of the emotional manipulations and constant disqualification by the harasser.
19. Insecurity and lack of self-confidence
The victim experiences a feeling of insecurity and lack of self-confidence, as a result of the constant criticism and disqualifications by the harasser.
twenty. Difficulties making decisions
The victim experiences difficulties making decisions, as a consequence of the emotional manipulation and pressure to which she is being subjected by the harasser.
21. Feeling of hopelessness and helplessness
The victim experiences a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness in the face of psychological harassment, without seeing a way out of the situation of abuse in which they find themselves.
22. Suicidal thoughts
In extreme cases, the victim may experience suicidal thoughts as a consequence of psychological harassment, due to intense emotional suffering and the feeling of not being able to escape the abusive situation.
It is essential to take the warning signs of psychological harassment seriously and seek professional help if you suspect that a person is being a victim of this type of abuse. The support of a psychologist or therapist can be essential to help the victim overcome the emotional consequences of bullying and recover their emotional well-being.