College educators engaging in abusive behavior towards their peers.
University life can be tough, but it's not just the students who face challenges – professors can encounter troubles too, particularly when it comes to dealing with psychological violence among colleagues. While there have been several studies on this issue among students, the dynamics among professors remains under-explored, particularly in Quebec universities.
Last week, a group of six professors from four different Quebec universities led by Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise, who teaches at Bishop's University, took matters into their own hands. They decided to write an article reviewing the literature on this problem, only to find a pitiful amount of solid data on psychological violence among professors. In response, they launched a survey to gather their colleagues' opinions on the matter, anonymously. As of Monday, over 780 professors and lecturers had already responded, with the number expected to grow in the coming days.
"We didn't really know how the survey would be received, but it's been beyond all our expectations," said Malboeuf-Hurtubise. She hopes the research will contribute to finding solutions that can improve relationships among university colleagues.
Lukewarm and alarming data have emerged from the preliminary results of this survey. According to Malboeuf-Hurtubise, 61% of participating professors indicated they had already been targeted by intimidation gestures from their colleagues. This information can be described as "very alarming," she added, but it should be noted that victims of intimidation are more likely to respond to such surveys than those who have never experienced it.
Many researchers participating in the survey have reported distress, with several indicating they have received threats, been subjected to belittling remarks, or even experienced aggressive behavior. This has resulted in significant stress, sleepless nights, and a desire to resign, according to Malboeuf-Hurtubise.
"There's a lot of distress and a great need for it to be brought to light," the professor observed.
The university environment is ripe for nurturing "dark personalities," as observed by Cynthia Mathieu, a professor at the University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières. These individuals, who often display narcissistic or Machiavellian personality traits, tend to thrive in the academic sphere due to their charisma and self-confidence. They then intimidate their colleagues, who are often left at a loss as to how to seek justice.
Mathieu calls the university environment a "very high-risk environment." In many cases, professors who are victims of bullying turn to department directors for help, only to be discouraged from filing complaints. "We end up with a lot of people suffering in silence," Mathieu notes, pointing out that the structure in place at universities tends to favor bullies.
On Tuesday, a panel discussion will be held during the Annual Congress of the Acfas addressing the syntactic and administrative issues resulting from "peer-to-peer" bullying in a university setting. The discussion will be moderated by Marc-André Éthier, who believes that imposing sanctions on professors who engage in psychological violence is essential. However, Enforcing such policies will be pointless, according to Mathieu, unless we have the courage to enforce them.
- The survey initiated by Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise and other professors has revealed that a significant number of responding professors have experienced intimidation from their colleagues, with 61% claiming to have been targeted.
- Cynthia Mathieu, a professor at the University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières, observes that the university environment can foster the growth of "dark personalities," individuals who may exhibit narcissistic or Machiavellian traits and intimidate their colleagues.
- Many participants in the survey reported distress, with several indicating they have received threats, been subjected to belittling remarks, or experienced aggressive behavior, leading to stress, sleepless nights, and a desire to resign.
- Enforcing sanctions against professors who engage in psychological violence is crucial, according to Marc-André Éthier, yet, according to Cynthia Mathieu, such policies will only be effective if there's courage to enforce them, as universities currently seem to favor bullies over victims.
