Chapter 6: Bullying at School and in the Workplace: A Challenge for Communication Research

Abstract

In this chapter, previous literature concerning sch ool bullying and workplace harassment will be reviewed from a communication perspective. The chapter details the seriousness and extensiveness of bullying, both among children at s chool and adults at work. We aim to provoke discussion of how communication research and theory might help us in understanding and explaining bullying. As will be elaborated, bullyin g appears in interaction situations, mostly in the forms of verbal and nonverbal communication, it exi sts n the interpersonal relationship of bully and victim, and it can be associated with group com munication processes and the structuration of groups, as well as with organizational and cultural communication processes. The benefits of applying communication theories and constructs to r esearch focusing on bullying will be demonstrated, and suggestions for future studies wi ll be made.