Therapist's Guide to Clinical Intervention - Sigmund Freud

17. Acts of violence
18. Sees self as victimized by coworkers or management
4. Early warning signs of potential workplace violence
A. Direct or veiled threats of harm
B. Intimidation of others. This can be physical or verbal intimidation. Harassing
phone calls and stalking are examples
C. Carrying a concealed weapon or flashing a weapon to test reactions
D. Paranoid behavior. Perceiving that the whole world is against one.
E. Moral righteousness and believing the organization is not following its rules and
procedures
F. Inability to take criticism of job performance. Holding a grudge, especially against a
supervisor. Oftentimes verbalizing hope for something to happen to the person
against whom the employee has the grudge
G. Expression of extreme desperation over recent family, financial, or personal
problems
H. History of violent behavior
I. Extreme interest in semiautomatic or automatic weapons and their destructive
power to people
J. Fascination with incidents of workplace violence and approval of the use of
violence under similar circumstances
K. Disregard for the safety of co-employees
L. Obsessive involvement with the job, often with uneven job performance and no
apparent outside interests
M. Being a loner and having a romantic obsession with a coworker who does not share
this interest
5. Level of violence
A. Level 1
1. Refuses to cooperate with immediate supervisor
2. Spreads rumors and gossip to harm others
3. Consistently argues with coworkers
4. Is belligerent toward customers/clients
5. Constantly swears at others
6. Makes unwanted sexual comments
B. Level 2
1. Argues increasingly with customers, vendors, coworkers, and management
2. Refuses to obey company policies and procedures
3. Sabotages equipment and steals property for revenge
4. Verbalizes wishes to hurt coworkers or management
5. Sends sexual or violent notes to coworkers or management
6. Sees self as victimized by management (me against them)
C. Level 3—Frequent displays of anger resulting in the following:
1. Recurrent suicidal threats
2. Recurrent physical fights
3. Destruction of property
4. Utilization of weapons to harm others
5. Commission of murder, rape, or arson
Prevention Not all angry people become violent. However, most violent people are angry. The moment
in which a situation is unfolding and what takes place are the most important factors in
292 3. Skill-Building Resources for Increasing Social Competency