Organizational determinants of violence in the workplace

Statistics show that incidents of violence in the workplace are on the rise . This article examines the effects of organizational structure on aggressi on and violence in the workplace. In the case of organizational aggression and violence, organizational factors interact with other behavioral determi nants. Through a review of the literature, it was determined that structura l characteristics can lead to such behavior when there is an incongruence o f needs/expectations and environment between the individual and the organiz ation. Individuals progress along a frustration-violence continuum until in tervening action is taken by the individual or the organization to overcome obstacles to goals or expectations. A model provides support of this analy sis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.