Investigating Personality Traits as the Antecedents of Workplace Bullying

Abstract

There is an ample body of knowledge showing significant association between five factor model (FFM) of personality traits and workplace bullying, yet exploring cause-and-effect relationship between them is still under addressed. To address this issue, current study has analyzed personality traits of Five-Factor Model as a potential antecedent of workplace bullying and its three sub-facets (verbal bullying, social bullying and physical bullying). Study analyzed responses of 266 respondents to draw inferences. Simple random sampling technique was used to collect data from the respondents. Correlation analysis showed a positive association of extraversion with physical bullying; negative association of agreeableness with workplace bullying, verbal bullying, social bullying and physical bullying; negative association of conscientiousness with workplace bullying, verbal bullying, social bullying and physical bullying; and negative association of emotional stability with physical bullying. Results of regression analysis showed significant effect of agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experiences on workplace bullying, verbal bullying, social bullying and physical bullying. Current study has identified personality as an important predictor of workplace bullying through which organizations may control incidence of bullying at their workplace environments. Current study also has highlighted important insights for future research directions. Keywords: Five Factor Model (FFM), Personality Traits, Workplace Bullying, Physical Bullying, Verbal Bullying, Social Bullying.

The dark side of law enforcement: A dispositional-situational analysis of workplace bullying

“…The result aligns with a study conducted by Munir et al (2021), which also found a significant impact of personality traits such as extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience on workplace bullying. The study's consistent findings strengthen the understanding that individual characteristics, specifically dispositional factors, such as job insecurity, job autonomy, stressful work situations and boredom play a crucial role in shaping bullying behaviors in the workplace, including the unique context of law enforcement.…”

“…A study by van der Westhuizen (2021) discovered that people who score highly on openness tend to dislike routine experiences. Munir et al `(2021) found that those scoring high on this trait become non-traditional because of a broad diversity of activities and preclude predictable stances. The fifth factor as researched by Grohol (2019) is conscientiousness which is defined as an individual's ability to control their instincts and participate in goal-oriented conduct, well-organised, disciplined, thoughtful, cautious, and meet objectives.…”