It’s the lack of justification that is most disturbing to many victims of bullying. If you run over your co-worker’s dog in the company parking lot, you could expect that person to be unfriendly. But many people find themselves targeted for no apparent reason. “Why me?” is their common refrain.

Research into the personality of bullying victims seeks to answer the “why me?” question. People with certain personality traits may be more likely to be bullied. In fact, bullies may also share certain common characteristics.

Personality can be a touchy subject. Drawing conclusions about the target’s personality can be interpreted as ‘blaming the victim’. Personality types also seem to give bullies an excuse: “She can’t help it, that’s just how she is.”

It goes without saying (but we’ll say it just in case) that bullying is always wrong and that no person is justified in mistreating their co-workers. However, examining personality can provide an insight into why people bully and what can prevent it.

Victim’s personality

A common assumption is that people who are bullied are “a bit different”. People imagine most targets as on the outer of the social group, whether due to an offbeat personality or poor social skills or strange habits.

Yet a study by Lars Glaso from the University of Bergen showed that 64 percent of victims had personality traits indistinguishable from non-victims. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of victims were just like everybody else.

However, the remaining 34 percent of victims did show some similarities. In this sub-group, victims had a tendency to be less extroverted, less emotionally stable and less agreeable.

Other studies found a similar split. While many or most victims did not differ from non-victims, a subset were less socially able. Vartia found that many victims of bullying were more neurotic than non-victims. O’Moore and his team found that some victims were less emotionally stable and dominant, as well as more anxious and sensitive.

While personality can therefore help identify certain traits that some victims share, it is no help at all in identifying most people who are likely to be victims.

Heinz Leyman, one of the original researchers into bullying, argues that neurotic personality traits may be a result rather than a cause of bullying. People who are constantly targeted may find it difficult to relate to others. This then leaves them vulnerable to further bullying, creating a vicious cycle.

Einarsen, a Swedish researcher, also suggests that different types of bullies are likely to select different types of victims. A master manipulator may target someone successful and popular. A tantrum-thrower may target someone more reserved.

The only clear answer is that victims of bullies do not come in one-size-fits-all packaging.

Bully’s personality

In movies, bullies are often revealed to be suffering from crippling insecurity. They lash out because the target is better than them in some way. They tearfully admit to low self-esteem and overwhelming self-doubt. All they ever needed was a little understanding!

While this might provide a neat happy ending for a film, research suggests this rarely plays out in real life.

Roy Baumeister conducted a five year study into self-esteem, examining people’s grades, relationships and criminality. He found that aggressive people had a tendency to exhibit higher self-esteem than others. Excessively high self-regard could be labelled “narcissism”.

Like the evil Queen in Snow White demanding to be “the fairest of them all”, narcissists aggressively defend their superiority from any challengers. They seek constant confirmation of their high self-esteem by cutting others down.

Mary Lamia, a clinical psychologist and professor, agrees with Baumeister. Her assessment is that bullies tend to have high self-esteem but be prone to shame.

Bullies who are shame-prone lash out at others to deflect their negative feelings. This keeps their precious self-esteem sky-high, according to Lamia.

Alternatively, Lisa Barrow, the author of In Darkness Light Dawns: Exposing Workplace Bullying, theorises that bullies tend to be Type A personalities, highly competitive and driven. Workplaces often reward this behaviour, promoting bullies while their victims look on in dismay.

This type of person may become easily frustrated when things go wrong. If a Type A person has not developed emotional maturity, their frustration may be directed outward. Their co-workers face a tantrum-throwing toddler with decision-making power and a corner office.
 

Connection with organisational culture

If there is no consensus as to who is bullied and who bullies them, why is personality important?

Knowing that certain personalities may be more likely to bully or be targeted helps guide organisations in shaping their culture.

A culture that values high performance may inadvertently reward Type A behaviour that can lead to bullying. Alternatively, cultures that encourage “standing up for yourself” may penalise those bullying victims who tend to have low extroversion and self-esteem.

People who have a tendency to bully will use their aggression against others where the workplace culture condones it.

One thing all workplace bullies have in common? They are only as dangerous as the organisation allows them to be.