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The Dark Side of School Culture

Author

Listed:
  • Patricia Mannix-McNamara

    (School of Education, University of Limerick, V94 PX58 Limerick, Ireland)

  • Niamh Hickey

    (School of Education, University of Limerick, V94 PX58 Limerick, Ireland)

  • Sarah MacCurtain

    (Department of Work and Employment Studies, University of Limerick, V94 PX58 Limerick, Ireland)

  • Nicolaas Blom

    (School of Education, University of Limerick, V94 PX58 Limerick, Ireland)

Abstract

The extant literature evidences the link between incivility and workplace culture. Both have a symbiotic relationship whereby a change in one influences the other. When workplace cultures develop dysfunctional values and beliefs, negative traditions, and caustic ways of interacting, they have become “toxic cultures.” This study examined Irish post-primary school teachers’ experiences of incivility and toxic culture in the workplace through in-depth interviews with forty-two participants. Results show that toxic work culture had a negative impact on both the personal and professional lives of the participants. We conclude that antecedents in toxic school culture are linked to epistemological assumptions, group dynamics, and deficiencies in leadership, and we suggest that they act as causes and/or facilitators of workplace bullying.

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia Mannix-McNamara & Niamh Hickey & Sarah MacCurtain & Nicolaas Blom, 2021. "The Dark Side of School Culture," Societies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:11:y:2021:i:3:p:87-:d:603842
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nicola Snow & Niamh Hickey & Nicolaas Blom & Liam O’Mahony & Patricia Mannix-McNamara, 2021. "An Exploration of Leadership in Post-Primary Schools: The Emergence of Toxic Leadership," Societies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Margaret Hodgins & Patricia Mannix McNamara, 2019. "An Enlightened Environment? Workplace Bullying and Incivility in Irish Higher Education," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(4), pages 21582440198, December.
    3. John Cullinan & Margaret Hodgins & Victoria Hogan & Michael McDermott & Sharon Walsh, 2019. "Bullying and Work-Related Stress in the Irish Workplace," Societies, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-22, February.
    4. Margaret Hodgins & Duncan Lewis & Sarah MacCurtain & Patricia McNamara & Victoria Hogan & Lisa Pursell, 2020. "“ . . . A Bit of a Joke†: Policy and Workplace Bullying," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Patrick Bruce & Carol Bruce & Victor Hrymak & Niamh Hickey & Patricia Mannix McNamara, 2022. "Staff Stress and Interpersonal Conflict in Secondary Schools—Implications for School Leadership," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-17, December.

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