Book Review: Waddington, P. A. J., Badger, D., & Bull, R. (2006). The Violent Workplace. Devon, UK: Willan. xii pp., 204 pp

• DOI: 10.1177/1057567708320257
• Author: Joan Brockman
• Date: 01 June 2008
• Published date: 01 June 2008
• Subject Matter: Articles

Waddington, P. A. J., Badger, D., & Bull, R. (2006). The Violent Workplace. Devon, UK:

Willan. xii pp., 204 pp.

DOI: 10.1177/1057567708320257

The authors of The Violent Workplace, professors of sociology (at Reading), health and social care

(at Reading), and forensic psychology (at Leicester), examine the various dimensions of a serious

problem that affects a wide variety of workplaces from health care providers to sex workers. Although

the media presentations of violence in the workplace often focus on incidents of “going postal” (p. 2),

these researchers use a more inclusive definition which incorporates intimidation without physical

harm. Using cognitive interviewing, the authors interviewed 54 police officers and 62 social care

professions–accident and emergency (A&E) hospital staff, social workers (mostly employed in child

protection), and medical staff and social workers involved in mental health care (p. 28).

Chapter 2 describes other research on workplace violence and the methodological problems asso-

ciated with studying this subject. The authors’ choice of cognitive interviewing builds on what psy-

chologists have learned about recovering accurate memories—use the interviewees’ frames of

reference or their mnemonics (p. 21). According to the authors, allowing the interviewees to follow

their own ways of remembering, without interruption, is more important than standardized questions

(p. 22). This approach, which is used by the police and holds up in court, is more likely to result in

recall which is more complete, accurate, and lacking in confabulation (pp. 24-25).

Using a snowball sampling technique, and acknowledging the consequential inability to generalize,

interviewees were asked about their most recent experience with workplace violence. Rather than

providing a large number of quotations, the authors construct a single composite narrative of the

interviewees’ experiences. Although this method could be criticized for losing the “voice of the vic-

tim,” it is an effective way of dealing with the layers of information that are provided through cog-

nitive interviewing (p. 30). These extremely vivid and telling vignettes fill, in most chapters, up to

two thirds of the space.

Chapter 3, Violent Actions, illustrates how the experiences of violence that police officers and other

professionals encounter are quite different, partly because of their mind-set. Police officers are often

the initiators of encounters as they struggle to arrest or keep someone under control. Violence is part

of their job. In contrast, social workers, A&E staff, and mental health professionals (referred to as the

“caring professionals”) do no initiate violence and do not normally see it as part of their job. The lat-

ter group also goes through intimidating experiences that may not be seen as “violence” by others (e.g.,

being blocked into a room and being told they will not be allowed to leave–Case 3.10).

Chapter 4, Violent People, examines the gendered interaction of violence in the workplace. Male

police officers treat violence from other men in a phlegmatic manner; however, they find physical

contact with women “deeply unsatisfactory” (p. 66). The threats by men to women who work in

casualty are quite different because of the additional threat that men can pose to women (p. 75). In

addition to gender roles and gendered stereotypes, fear can also be instilled through appearance

whether it be “shaven heads, aggressive tattoos professing allegiance to far-right political groups,”

or the type of garments (pp. 77-78) or jewelry (p. 80). Unfortunately, some people may instill fear

without any intention to do so (e.g., the appearance of a homeless drug addict). The chapter also

examines some of the indicia of trouble: “mental illness, emotional disturbance, drunkenness and

drug use; delinquency; and the presence of others” (p. 82).

The interviewees’ ability to predict behavior varied by profession. A one-time encounter by a

police officer provides less knowledge and predictability than an ongoing relationship with a social

worker or mental health professional (p. 106). Knowledge can work both ways—it may not only

allow the professional to predict behavior and alleviate anxiety but also result in false predictions

and unnecessary emotional stress (pp. 110-113).

240 International Criminal Justice Review