Harassment is a phenomenon that is unfortunately present in various areas of daily life, from the workplace to school. Psychology has identified different types of bullying, each with specific characteristics that differentiate it. Recognizing these types is essential to be able to adequately address this social and psychological problem, as well as to prevent situations of abuse and violence. Below, the 7 most common types of harassment and their distinctive characteristics will be presented.
1. Psychological Harassment
Psychological harassment, also known as moral harassment or mobbing, is characterized by repetitive and systematic behavior that aims to discredit, intimidate or humiliate a person in their work, social or family environment. This type of harassment can manifest itself through constant criticism, ridicule, malicious rumors, marginalization or any other form of psychological abuse that creates a hostile environment for the victim.
Characteristics of Psychological Harassment:
- Repetitive and constant behavior.
- Intention to discredit or humiliate the victim.
- Negative impact on the emotional and psychological health of the harassed person.
- It can cause stress, anxiety, depression and other psychological disorders.
- It can lead the victim to feel devalued and unsupported.
2. Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is defined as any unwanted behavior with a sexual connotation that generally occurs in the workplace, educational or social environment. This type of harassment can manifest itself in different ways, such as comments, gestures, insinuations, sexual propositions, unwanted touching or other behaviors that seek to intimidate, coerce or subdue the victim.
Characteristics of Sexual Harassment:
- Unwanted behavior of a sexual nature.
- Intimidation or coercion through inappropriate sexual conduct.
- Generates a feeling of vulnerability in the harassed person.
- It can have serious repercussions on the victim's self-esteem and mental health.
- It can lead to situations of sexual abuse or aggression.
3. School Harassment (Bullying)
School bullying, also known as bullying, is a type of harassment that occurs in the educational field, especially among children and adolescents. It is characterized by aggressive and repetitive behavior on the part of one or more students who seek to intimidate, annoy or attack another classmate. This type of bullying can manifest itself in various ways, such as insults, hitting, social exclusion, threats or cyberbullying.
Characteristics of Bullying:
- Aggressive and repetitive behavior.
- Inequality of power between the aggressor and the victim.
- Generates an environment of hostility and fear at school.
- It can have serious consequences on emotional health and the victim's academic performance.
- Requires intervention and prevention by teachers, parents and school authorities.
4. Workplace Harassment (Workplace Mobbing)Workplace harassment, also known as work mobbing, refers to situations in which an employee is subjected to a series of hostile, abusive or humiliating behaviors by his superiors, colleagues or subordinates in the workplace. This type of harassment can manifest itself through constant criticism, manipulation, exclusion, assignment of impossible tasks or any other behavior that aims to discredit or undermine the victim's self-esteem.Characteristics of the victim. Workplace Harassment:
- Abusive and hostile behavior in the work environment.
- Negative impact on the employee's job performance and emotional health.
- Can lead to work stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.
- It can lead to the victim's resignation or unjustified dismissal.
- Requires prevention policies and protocols in companies .
5. Virtual Bullying (Cyberbullying)
Virtual bullying, also known as cyberbullying, is a form of bullying that occurs through digital media, such as social networks, text messages, emails or any another online platform. This type of harassment may include threats, defamation, impersonation, online social exclusion, disclosure of private information or any other behavior that seeks to harm the victim's reputation or safety.
Characteristics of Virtual Harassment :
- Intimidating or threatening behavior online.
- It can affect the social, emotional and psychological life of the victim.
- Generates a feeling of helplessness and vulnerability in the harassed person.
- It can lead to self-esteem problems, anxiety or depression.
- Requires security measures and awareness in the digital sphere.
6. Racial Harassment
Racial harassment refers to situations in which a person is subjected to mistreatment, discrimination or violence due to their ethnic origin, their skin color or any other characteristic related to their race. This type of harassment can manifest itself through insults, physical attacks, social exclusion, mockery or any behavior that is based on racial discrimination.
Characteristics of Racial Harassment:
- Discriminatory behavior based on race.
- Creates an environment of hatred, intolerance and division.
- Can have serious repercussions on the self-esteem and identity of the harassed person.
- It can lead to social conflicts and violence.
- It requires anti-racist education and prevention policies in society.
7. Harassment in the Family Environment
Harassment in the family environment is a type of abuse that occurs within the family, generally by a member with power over others, such as parents, partners or caregivers. This type of harassment can manifest itself through physical, verbal, emotional or psychological violence, as well as through excessive control, threats, blackmail or any form of manipulation that seeks to subdue the victim.
Characteristics of the harassment Harassment in the Family Environment:
- Mistreatment and abuse by a family member.
- Negative impact on the emotional and psychological health of the victim, especially on the case of children and adolescents.
- It can perpetuate cycles of violence and abuse in future generations.
- Requires professional intervention to break the cycle of abuse.
In conclusion, bullying manifests itself in different ways and in different contexts, but it shares the objective of controlling, intimidating or harming the victim. It is essential to recognize the different types of harassment and their characteristics in order to prevent it, address it appropriately and provide support to those who suffer it. Psychology plays a crucial role in identifying and treating bullying, as well as promoting safe and violence-free environments in society.