Power and Control Dynamics and tactics

Bullying and harassment involve behaviour or tactics to gain power and control over people and provide protection. The person who bullies or harasses seeks to gain a sense of power over someone and to control what they do. 

In the field of family violence, research into the tactics of power and control have demonstrated the types of behaviour and tactics used by people using violence  to gain and maintain control in families. Physical violence is one aspect of this. The person uses physical violence to control other family members. However, physical violence is not the only tactic of power and control. Other forms of behaviour are also used to gain power and control including forms of intimidation, humiliation, isolation and control of resources. Workplace bullying involves similar dynamics.

One common form of power and control dynamic is when a  person who is bullying is exposed and challenged. They will play the victim as if they are being bullied. In some cases, they will take formal action against others to avoid being the subject of investigation. 

Power and control dynamics also include enlisting and grooming people in the group to take a side, provide support and get these people to bully the person targeted. In this way they ‘load the guns so that others can fire them’.

All tactics of power and control are used to gain or maintain dominance and to avoid accountability. In a work group, experienced bullies typically become protected and their victims are typically ignored, blamed and shamed. This usually leads to the victims leaving, or learning to bully back in return. Bystanders initially try to maintain separation and avoid being caught up in the dynamics. However, their inaction becomes a form of passive collusion which is described by an English Lord (Edmund Burke) who said, “The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is that good people do nothing.”