Workplace Violence

Abstract

This entry provides an introductory overview of workplace violence. Key constructs such as workplace violence and aggression are defined, along with a variety of other terms frequently found in the literature. The parallels and differences among several of the major concepts (e.g., workplace violence, bullying, harassment) are explored. Additionally, the sources (i.e., Type I, Type II, Type III, and Type IV) of workplace violence are described and discussed in detail, along with the prevalence of each. Situational and imminent risk to violence while at work is also discussed via the SAV‐T first model. Lastly, the entry identifies common strategies for preventing, reducing, and coping with the trauma of workplace violence. Specifically, three approaches for dealing with workplace violence are presented (administrative interventions, target hardening, and behavioral interventions), along with examples of intervention techniques most commonly employed by organizations.