Date of Award

2012

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

With the growing occurrence of deadly shootings on college campuses (Jenson, 2007), campus administrators have placed emphasis on early detection of potentially dangerous students. One indicator of possible violence is perpetration of uncivil or aggressive behaviors (Clark, 2008a; Kolanko et al., 2006). Placing behaviors on a spectrum of interpersonal mistreatment can provide cues to behaviors that could escalate into greater violence. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether bullying, cyberbullying, incivility, and sexual harassment directed at faculty members occurs on such a spectrum and as separate or overlapping constructs. Factor analyses were conducted on frequency of occurrence and level of upset data collected for 49 behaviors included on the Faculty Experience Survey. Both analyses resulted in three-factor solutions that demonstrated a great deal of overlap of the following categories: (a) Poor Student Behaviors, (b) Direct Incivility, and (c) Aggressive, Threatening Behaviors. These categories appear to create a spectrum of interpersonal mistreatment ranging from the most common and least upsetting to the least common and most upsetting behaviors. This study also sought to determine who was most likely to be the target of interpersonal mistreatment based on personal, academic, and institutional characteristics. Age and sexual orientation affected the report of Direct Incivility behaviors, while characteristics indicating longevity in academia increased the likelihood of having experienced Aggressive, Threatening Behaviors. Differences were seen in the frequency of Poor Student and Aggressive, Threatening Behaviors in certain regions of the country. Strategies for preventing and responding to interpersonal mistreatment are discussed.

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