Bullies frequently engage in mind games, which can severely distort the target’s perception of reality. Victims often feel guilt and take responsibility for the bullying they endure.

When facing bullying, individuals may rationalize the bully’s actions with thoughts such as:

• “I did poorly on that project; I deserved to be reprimanded.”
• “Times are tough; my manager is just trying to keep the team on track.”
• “I just need to toughen up.”

It’s important to remember that no one deserves to be bullied, regardless of their circumstances. To better understand bullying, we can examine when it typically occurs and how it affects targets.

At its core, bullying revolves around power and control. It often arises when there is a shift in the balance of power, such as:

• A new manager taking over the team
• A new team member joining
• A merger of two teams

According to Gary and Ruth Namie, there are three common reasons why someone may be targeted:

• The individual refuses to conform to someone else’s demands
• The individual excels in some way (e.g., smarter, more personable, more attractive)
• The individual is a whistleblower who upholds high ethical standards