Mobbing in organizations - A review of the state of the art of mobbing research

This article reviews the state of the art of mobbing (bullying) research. S everal aspects of mobbing are discussed and a definition is developed. Euro pean studies on mobbing are summarized with regard to the frequency, the be ginning and the duration of mobbing, gender-related aspects, the position o f the mobbers, and mobbing in different branches of industry. Various cause s of mobbing in the organization, in the social system (work group), in the perpetrator and in the victim are discussed and empirical data are present ed. Moreover, economic and health consequences of mobbing are described. Th e final discussion summarizes risk factors of mobbing.