Workplace bullying consists of repeated, long-term exposure to a variety of negative behaviors. However, it remains unclear when behaviors are seen as morally acceptable vs. become bullying. Moral judgments affect whether third parties deem it necessary to intervene. In this qualitative study, we first conceptualize and then explore via 27 interviews with Austrian HR professionals and employee representatives whether twelve diverse negative behaviors elicit distinct causal attributions and moral judgments. In particular, we examine how a perpetrator’s hierarchical position and gender shape the third parties’ evaluations. A qualitative content analysis reveals the behaviors vary in their perceived acceptability and associations with workplace bullying. Ambiguous behaviors require specific cues such a perpetrator’s malicious intent to be labeled workplace bullying. Overall, third parties judge behaviors by supervisors more harshly, particularly when managerial role expectations are violated. The majority of informants reject the notion that their perceptions are affected by perpetrator gender. Still, women who engage in behaviors associated with anger or a lack of empathy are often perceived as acting with intent. The findings suggest that the violation of social role expectations amplifies the attribution of dispositional causes (e.g., malicious intent). We discuss the relevance of perpetrator intent for research and practice.

中文翻译：

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可接受的行为还是工作场所欺凌？——施暴者的性别和等级地位如何影响第三方对消极行为的归因和道德判断

工作场所欺凌包括反复、长期暴露于各种负面行为。然而，目前尚不清楚何时将行为视为道德上可接受的行为与欺凌行为。道德判断会影响第三方是否认为有必要进行干预。在这项定性研究中，我们首先概念化，然后通过对奥地利人力资源专业人士和员工代表的 27 次采访探索十二种不同的消极行为是否会引起不同的因果归因和道德判断。特别是，我们研究了肇事者的等级地位和性别如何影响第三方的评估。定性内容分析显示，这些行为在感知可接受性和与工作场所欺凌的关联方面各不相同。模棱两可的行为需要特定的线索，例如肇事者的恶意意图被贴上工作场所欺凌的标签。总体而言，第三方更严厉地判断主管的行为，尤其是在违反管理角色期望时。大多数线人拒绝接受他们的看法受犯罪者性别影响的观点。尽管如此，从事与愤怒或缺乏同理心相关的行为的女性通常被认为是故意行事。研究结果表明，违反社会角色期望会放大性格原因（例如，恶意意图）的归因。我们讨论了犯罪者意图与研究和实践的相关性。大多数线人拒绝接受他们的看法受犯罪者性别影响的观点。尽管如此，从事与愤怒或缺乏同理心相关的行为的女性通常被认为是故意行事。研究结果表明，违反社会角色期望会放大性格原因（例如，恶意意图）的归因。我们讨论了犯罪者意图与研究和实践的相关性。大多数线人拒绝接受他们的看法受犯罪者性别影响的观点。尽管如此，从事与愤怒或缺乏同理心相关的行为的女性通常被认为是故意行事。研究结果表明，违反社会角色期望会放大性格原因（例如，恶意意图）的归因。我们讨论了犯罪者意图与研究和实践的相关性。