We regularly talk about harassment, whether at work or for younger people, in their school environment. But what does this really consist of? A psychiatrist, Dr. Caroline Depuydt, published a “harassment meter” on her Instagram account, making it possible to detect situations of harassment, in order to better spot them and move away from them. Explanations.
Victims of bullying know how destructive this behavior is. But those who have never experienced it, perhaps less so. To better explain harassment and learn to detect these problematic situations, Dr Caroline Depuydt, psychiatrist, published a harassment meter on her Instagram account, to recognize warning signals.
Harassment, toxic behavior that must not be accepted
In her Instagram post, the specialist brings together the different behaviors that outsiders can have towards you. In green, she noted healthy behaviors, namely:
“This person respects my tastes, my needs, my choices; allows me to be comfortable when I am with him/her; and he or she is happy when I feel fulfilled”.
For her, this type of behavior reflects mutual respect and an absence of fear towards others and this is what is normal, particularly in a couple’s relationship. The other examples, according to her, constitute harassment, particularly if it involves repeated behavior and should not be tolerated.
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Good in his body, good in his head!
Other behaviors that the psychiatrist considers unacceptable
Among the behaviors that the psychiatrist judges to be harassment are:
- Mockery or derogatory remarks, which may seem harmless at first, but their repetition creates a toxic atmosphere;
- Blackmail or threats, when you are forced to do something you don’t want to do;
- Exclusions or sidelines because “ignoring or isolating someone can cause as much pain as words.” estimates the specialist;
- Rumors or gossip, because “these words have the power to damage a person’s reputation, often beyond repair” ;
- Humiliating messages or publications, because the “Cyberbullying is just as real and devastating as physical bullying.” ;
- Finally, physical attacks, because no form of violence is ever acceptable.
For the psychiatrist, if one of these situations is repeated regularly, it is harassment. She advises all people who recognize themselves not to be alone and invites them to ask for help. Finally, she recalls, “silence only makes things worse. Sometimes recognizing the problem is the first step to stopping it.”.
