Abusive Relationships Research Paper

Words: 625
Pages: 3

In recent years, a multitude of studies have compiled evidence enumerating the harmful effects of abusive or otherwise unhealthy relationships on an individual. Such relationships may include those with family, coworkers, or romantic partners. The effects of negative relationships are far-reaching, especially if the relationship is a close one, and learning to cope or manage such relationships can be very difficult. This paper will look closely at the effects and consequences of negative relationships on a person and examine ways to deal with these relationships, as well as how to recognize and potentially avoid them in the future. Depending on the situation, there can be several definitions for an abusive or negative relationship. In the …show more content…
478). According to Chu (2013), employees treated in negative ways by their employer, including “[exhibiting] loud and angry tantrums, rudeness, impoliteness, humiliating or ridiculing someone in front of others, [and] coercion,” are “likely to react with unfavorable behavior” towards their own coworkers, continuing the cycle of abuse (p. 954). Toxic work environments can also impact the “physical and psychological health and well-being of victims” of the negativity, which inevitably affects an individual’s work performance. Over time, this may “impair… [an individual’s] ability to self-regulate their behaviours,” so they are essentially unable to control emotions or actions (Halbesleben et al., 2013, p. 479). This could be extremely dangerous in a high-stress environment in which employees need to be able to think and behave rationally, such as in nursing, in which negative relationships between nurses and supervisors is “widespread” (Chu, 2014, p. 953). Nurses in these environments have been proven to be “more likely to make errors in carrying out their duties” and “less tolerant and compassionate towards their patients” (Chu, 2014, p. 959). Obviously, the effects of negative relationships extend beyond the immediate relationship into all areas of an individual’s