Search

Emotional and helping responses among bystanders of victims of mobbing: the role of perceived responsibility and threat of contagion Emotional and helping responses among bystanders of victims of mobbing: the role of perceived responsibility and threat of contagion R. Mulder, M. Pouwelse, H. Lodewijkx & C. Bolman, Gedrag & Organisatie, volume 21, March 2008, pp. 19-34 Building upon Weiner's (1995, 1996) attributional model of social behavior, we examined the effects of perceived responsibility and threat of contagion upon bystanders' emotional and helping responses towards the victim (an executive) in a mobbing situation. Hypotheses were examined in a 2 (perceived responsibility: weak/strong) x 2 (perceived threat of contagion): weak/strong) vignette study among government workers (N = 161). SEM path analyses (using Amos 5.0) revealed that weak (versus strong) perceived responsibility led to stronger pity and less anger, which both led to stronger helping intentions. Intriguingly, bystanders further showed stronger helping intentions, when the victim of mobbing was held more responsible for his situation. The perceived threat conditions did not directly influence helping intentions, but weak versus strong perceived threat was related to less anger and anxiety, and less anxiety, in turn, was associated with stronger helping intentions. Discussed are the potential consequences of the power differential between victims (as executives) and bystanders, and the validity of Weiner's model in explaining mobbing at work.