Horizontal Violence
Horizontal violence, also known as lateral violence, refers to aggressive or violent behavior among individuals within a group, typically occurring in workplace settings. It is characterized by a lack of a power differential, distinguishing it from traditional bullying, and often manifests as repeated incidents over time, including verbal and emotional abuse. This behavior is often covert, making it difficult for superiors to identify and address. The term was introduced by Brazilian philosopher Paulo Freire, who suggested that such violence arises when individuals from oppressed groups redirect their frustrations towards peers rather than addressing their oppressors, resulting in what he termed "sub-oppressors."
Horizontal violence is particularly prevalent in professions such as nursing, where studies have indicated that a significant percentage of nurses experience these behaviors, impacting both their emotional well-being and overall workplace dynamics. Victims may suffer from anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while the overall quality of performance and communication within the profession can deteriorate. The secretive nature of horizontal violence often allows it to persist without accountability, posing risks not only to the individuals involved but also to the broader work environment and the quality of care provided.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Horizontal Violence
Horizontal violence is collective behavior that involves a group of people who act aggressively or violently toward an individual member or a few members within the group. Horizontal violence is a type of group conflict, a phenomenon studied by social scientists that is described as antagonist feelings between different groups. Horizontal violence is sometimes referred to as lateral violence and commonly occurs in the workplace.
Horizontal violence differs from bullying in that it occurs among peers and does not involve a power gap. The behavior is often perpetrated as a series of incidents over time as opposed to one isolated encounter. Horizontal violence is difficult to discern since it is conducted covertly and often out of the view of superiors. The persistence of horizontal violence can lead to emotional distress, making a victim feel depressed or suicidal. In some cases, the repeated behavior can induce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Overview
The origin of the term horizontal violence is credited to Brazilian philosopher Paulo Freire. Freire used the phrase in his book Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1970) to describe the behavior of members of oppressed groups who harass their peers in response to their situation instead of attacking their oppressors. Aggression and violence are focused against peers because the person feels powerless to act against the true source of their frustration. The behavior gives rise to "sub-oppressors" who model their behavior after their oppressors, who represent the model human to them. These sub-oppressors are distinguished by their feelings of powerlessness, low self-esteem, self-deprecation, and fear of responsibility and retaliation. To soothe their inner rage, they lash out at their peers to feel less devalued.
Horizontal violence is most commonly perpetrated in an office environment and has a major presence in the nursing profession. Experts estimate that between 45 and 80 percent of nurses have experienced horizontal violence in some form at work. Horizontal violence is not always physical in nature and more commonly involves verbal and emotional abuse. The behavior is group-oriented, with a group of workers ostracizing another worker or a circle of workers. These behaviors include sabotage, scapegoating, criticism, sarcastic or belittling comments, bullying, gossip, social exclusion, public humiliation, and passive-aggressive comments or actions, among other behaviors. These behaviors can have a lasting impact on the target of the abuse and be detrimental to the profession as a whole.
Victims of horizontal violence often experience feelings of anxiety and depression, conditions that can lead to sleep disorders and PTSD. Workplace hostility also results in poor communication among coworkers, reducing performance quality. In terms of nursing, patient care and health relies on the quality of performance. In such a case, horizontal violence can harm the well-being of unsuspecting parties. Due to the often-secretive nature of horizontal violence, the behavior often goes unpunished.
Bibliography
Freire, Paulo. Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Continuum, 1970.
Funk, Carole. "Cutting Down the Tall Poppies: Horizontal Violence." Education Resources Information Center, 9 Sept. 2002, files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED469273.pdf. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Kiprillis, Noelleen, et al. “Prevalence of Horizontal Violence of Nurses in Their First Year of Practice: A Systematic Review.” Collegian, vol. 29, no. 2, 2022, pp. 236–44, doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2021.12.001. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Snively, Elizabeth, and Natalie Vaughn. "What Is Lateral Violence in Nursing?" Relias, 23 Aug. 2023, www.relias.com/blog/what-is-lateral-violence-in-nursing. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Snively, Elizabeth, and Rebecca Smallwood. "5 Ways to Reduce Horizontal Violence in Healthcare." Relias, 20 Sept. 2024, www.relias.com/blog/5-ways-to-reduce-horizontal-violence-in-healthcare. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Vessey, Judith A., et al. “Bullying, Harassment, and Horizontal Violence in the Nursing Workforce: The State of the Science.” Annual Review of Nursing Research, vol. 28, 2010, pp. 133–57, doi:10.1891/0739-6686.28.133. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.