Aggressive Behavior in the Work Environment

People usually believe their behavior in the workplace is rational, logical, and appropriate. But rational, logical, and appropriate behavior at work among employees who argue based on prosocial ideologies adopted during socialization is not the same among individuals who argue using rationalization of their behavior. Employees who use rationalization of their behavior find aggressive methods to be more logical. The importance of understanding the organizational behavior of employees is crucial because individuals with aggressive behavior create a toxic environment.

Aggressive individuals are a challenge in everyday work for every department and every team. Most employees do not like aggressive colleagues. Employees find them to be unpleasantly loud, unfair, unpredictable, pointless, provocative, and inexorable.

Aggressive individuals are often ruthless towards others in the work environment. When speaking of themselves, they use lies to present themselves above others. Most employees describe their lies as painfully annoying. Some colleagues fear them and therefore, avoid them or assume a favorable attitude, while others simply lead them to strong reactions.

The behavior of aggressive individuals is different. They are demanding and bossy when they communicate with others. They speak loudly, criticize and demoralize others in their work environment followed by aggressive gestures. They interrupt when others are speaking and they never care about the opinion of others. On the contrary, they hardly ever listen to what others have to say. They cannot tolerate being criticized. They often accuse others of their own mistakes because they do not admit their mistakes. They start conflicts and undermine the boss’s authority, and when it comes to completing assignments, they show irresponsibility.

They are brilliant in verbal assaults and they work on undermining others. Whoever disagrees with them or does not support their work, the conversation can turn into a loud exchange of words, and often verbal assaults and humiliation. They can be so aggressive that they can provoke rage even among colleagues with the highest self-confidence at least for a moment.

Besides that, they also behave in passive-aggressive manners: they don’t pass on the information to others, ignore e-mails and phone calls, they don’t appear on meetings, they are absent or late on purpose, and they procrastinate completing work assignments.

Aggressive employees argue in specific manners. To resolve the conflict between the motive for aggression and motive for preserving a positive image of oneself, they apply rationalization of their behavior.

Examples of rationalization that aggressive individuals use in an organization:

The basis for aggressive behavior and communication among employees who apply rationalization in their arguments can be:

• Defense against shame and inferiority: as a result of low self-esteem, individuals are prone to outbursts of rage and verbal and/or physical assaults.
• Manipulation of others: a person wants to manipulate others into doing what they want and as they find fit (instrumental behavior).
• Expression of selfishness: when a person feels their needs are not fulfilled without even considering the needs and rights of others. All that matters are their own desires and well-being.

Employees who express a tendency towards aggressiveness in their behavior have a strong connection between their self-perception and aggressiveness. Aggressive individuals do not perceive their unconscious functioning and the behavior that results from it. That is why discussion and arguments with an aggressive person are to be avoided. Do not allow yourself to be aggravated by your coworker’s aggressive behavior. Allow minor criticism from an aggressive coworker as it would be a bad idea to enter a verbal war with them. Not even defensive signals such as “Who do you think you are?“ etc are advised.

An aggressive employee may attempt to provoke others in the work environment in different ways. For example, by frightening others, humiliating them, making offensive jokes, spreading malicious rumors, gossiping, using bad words, underestimating other people’s opinion and attitudes etc. If you remain calm, they may only envy you on that without knowing what you really think. In any case, you will seem much more clever than your coworker. Bear in mind that you are in the workplace and that it is much more important to avoid escalation and additional stress, decreased productivity and motivation for work, avoid decreasing the quality of services provided, and finally, you will contribute to your company’s image by acting rationally.