ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors explain mobbing in academia as a backdoor retaliation strategy for bullies to pressure targets to withdraw their complains and/or to make biased and usually falsified allegations against targets to put them in corner. Historically, origin of mobbing among humans is attributed to the Darwinian struggle for survival by Konrad Lorenz. He observed similar behaviors among birds and other animals and believed that humans adapted the innate impulse via evolution with an excellent ability of rational control. The ultimate goal of mobbing is often to isolate and force the target to leave the workplace. Hence, the mobbing group may use a variety or combination of methods, which include physical and mental manipulations to disgrace the target via humiliation, intimidation, spreading rumors, discrediting, and innuendo behaviors. The consequences of mobbing techniques and strategies are so severe that mobbing is categorized as a major public health issue since it may result in negative mental and physical health effects.
