Toxic mentors or toxic proteges? A critical re-examination of dysfunctional mentoring

Although mentoring can have positive consequences for the careers of proteg es, many young adults become enmeshed in dysfunctional relationships with t heir mentors. To the extent that these destructive mentor-protege relations hips have been examined, the prevailing underlying assumption has been that they are the mentors' fault because mentors are more powerful and dominant than their proteges. This article presents an alternative to that perspect ive. It suggests that proteges, as much as mentors, contribute to the inter personal dynamics that result in dysfunctional outcomes, and that mentors, as well as proteges, are hurt by these destructive relationships. The paper presents a framework for understanding the interpersonal dynamics underlyi ng the development of dysfunctional mentor-protege relationships, examining three key questions in particular: (1) What causes poor initial linkages b etween mentors and proteges? (2) What causes poor initial linkages to escal ate into destructive mentor-protege relationships? (3) What are the consequ ences of dysfunctional relationships for proteges and mentors alike? The ar ticle concludes with suggestions for improving the research methodology use d to examine dysfunctional mentoring in the future.