Harassing consists of stalking a person or group repeatedly, seriously altering their development in daily life. Let’s see what kinds of harassment exist according to the context and the environment in which it occurs.
Harassing refers to engaging in intimidating, harmful, or coercive behavior. There are different types of harassment that are classified according to the scope or type of conduct being performed. By performing this behavior the harasser aims to produce an alteration and discomfort in the victim.
The observed consequences caused by harassment can be very serious, completely affecting the life of the attacked, and this affectation can remain chronic but is treated effectively, and thus increasing the possibility that the victim sees suicide as the only way out. For this reason it is very important to know what types of harassment exist and how they manifest themselves in order to identify them and thus prevent and avoid major consequences.
In this article we will talk about what is meant by harassment and what type of harassment there is, what each one consists of, what affectations they cause andwho are usually the main victims.
- We recommend you read: “The 7 types of mobbing (workplace harassment) and their causes”
What is harassment?
We understand harassment to be aggressive, harmful, intimidating or persecutory behavior towards other peopletag. Harassing behavior can be of different types, both physical; verbal, through obscene comments or innuendos; or sexual and can occur in different situations such as the school or work environment.
The bullying occurs repeatedly or is likely to happen again in the future. It manages to generate a situation of dominance and control of the harasser over the victim. Given that normally the aggressor and the victim behave in an environment, that is, they are classmates either at school or at work, it produces a situation of helplessness in the harassed person without power or knowing on many occasions how to deal with the situation of harassment.
It is important to highlight the imbalance of power that occurs between the harasser and the victim, the former believing himself to be much superior and in a higher position. In the same way, we cannot forget that the two parties involved in the harassment, both the one who causes harm and the one who receives it, can present or develop serious and lasting problems.
What forms of harassment are there?
There are different types of harassment and can be classified in different ways, such as according to the scope, situation where it occurs or according to the type of attack that is carried out. Below we will present the 7 most well-known and common forms of harassment. Given the seriousness of the situation, we must remember that it is necessary to denounce it and that it becomes legally available.
1. Bullying
School bullying, also known as bullying, is one of the most common types of bullying. It is characterized bythe performance of harmful behavior, whether physical, verbal or psychological, towards another individual in the school contexttag. Normally those involved are two students, the harasser and the harassed, although given the difference and imbalance of power that bullying implies, the aggressors can also be a group of students or even a teacher, who already has more authority.
It is especially important that we show ourselves attentive and act in the face of a situation of bullying, since those involved are minors, and it can produce very serious and irreversible consequences and alterations that affect them throughout their lives. It is common for them to present low self-esteem, insecurity and helplessness, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. We cannot fail to mention the most serious consequence that this type of harassment can entail, such as the suicide of the minor.
Therefore, the development and use of protocols for the prevention and action against bullying will be essential, to detect and act effectively, avoiding possible more serious consequences. In the same way,it is also advisable to educate and teach children social and assertive skills , increase and develop their empathic capacity, as well as tools that increase their strength and decrease the possibility of becoming bullies or victims.
2. Workplace harassment
Workplace harassment also known by the English term mobbing refers toharmful and hostile behavior that occurs in the workplace. Threats, the propagation and dissemination of false rumors to provoke the rejection and isolation of the victim are typical.
In the same way that we have also seen what happens with bullying, in this type of bullying the aggressor and the victim are related, they are in the same place for much of the day most days. Fact that makes the affectation more intense and continuous and the harassed has difficulties to avoid or flee from the harassment situation.
Harassing behavior can occur both vertically, that is, between individuals with jobs in different categories, between the boss and his subordinate, or horizontally, when those involved hold similar positions. As we have already pointed out, the aggressor may be one or a group of people.
Workplace bullying produces serious consequences for both the company and the harassed worker, and can generate a high degree of stress in him, leading to a post-traumatic stress disorder and even on some occasions where no remedy is put in place and the bullying behavior is not treated. cause the suicide of the victim. In this way it will be essential to prevent and not overlook any harassing behavior at work.
3. Real estate harassment
Real estate stalking, also called real estate mobbing or blockbusting, is the least known type of stalking. This consists of hostile behavior towards a person or family against their right to have adequate housing.
This type of harassment is carried out by the owner towards the people who rent their home tag. Harassing behaviors can be diverse, from turning off the water or electricity to refusing to repair breakdowns or damage to the floor. The objective of the owner is that the tenants end up abandoning the house or canceling the rental contract.
It is common for those affected by this type of harassment to be older people, with difficulties in understanding their rights or without the support of others to help them.
4. Psychological harassment
Psychological harassment is also known by the name of moral harassment since it aims to damage the dignity and moral integrity of the victim , producing a psychological imbalance in her that will cause different alterations and affectations in all areas of her life.
This type of harassment can be more difficult to detect since it does not leave any visible physical signs and on many occasions the victim is confused and is not able to detect that they are being harassed and thus be able to ask for help.
The behaviors that can be seen in psychological harassment are lies, defamation or distortions of reality giving a version that is not real. These presented in a repetitive and continuous way end up producing in the harassed a feeling of uncertainty, helplessness, loss of control and not knowing how to act or handle the situation.
A state of insecurity and instability will appear in the victim, of loss of confidence in others that can lead to depressive and anxious symptoms and even suicidal attempts and behaviors.
5. Physical harassment
Physical harassment or stalking consists of the conduct of chasing, stalking another person in order to establish or form a relationship against the will of the harassed person , who does not want any type of contact with the harasser.
This behavior can become obsessive and even generate aggressiveness and hostility, being able to attack the victim. The harasser can persecute, spy on, threaten the victim or try to communicate or get in touch with her, through calls or messages. This type of harassment can also be carried out in authoritarian governments to obtain information from the people who inhabit it and have them controlled.
6. Sexual harassment
In sexual harassment, the aggressor performs intimidating, threatening or pressured behavior of a sexual nature tag. The behaviors carried out in this type of aggression can be both physical, such as behaviors of physical violence, touching, caressing or approaches without the consent of the other person; as verbal, saying obscene comments, words or references of a sexual nature; or non-verbal, making gestures, movements, noises or whistles with the aim of sexually intimidating.
This form of harassment can occur in different situations and those involved can be both men and women, although throughout history we have observed a higher percentage of women victims of sexual harassment.
As we have seen, this harassment can be carried out through different and varied behaviors, these being considered more or less serious depending on the situation, some of them can even be considered a crime and be punished with imprisonment.
7. Cyber
Cyberbullying, also known as cyberstalking, internet bullying, online bullying or virtual bullying, is one of the most recent types, given the development that has occurred in the field of technology. In this type of harassment,the aggressor uses social networks or digital communication devices in order to spread false rumors or private information about the victim , as well as refer to her with vulgar or obscene words.
This situation generates great discomfort in the harassed person, and may lead to psychological, emotional and social alterations. Given the continuous and high consumption of social networks and the Internet by adolescents, as well as the innocence and lack of experience that some of them may present, they are usually the main targets and most affected by cyberbullying.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.
