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My Boss is a Narcissist Bully: A Game Theoretic Approach to Stop Bullies

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  • Pascal Stiefenhofer
  • Cafer Deniz
  • Liangxun Xie
  • Jing Qian

Abstract

This paper investigates effective strategies for dealing with workplace bullying perpetrated by a narcissistic boss. Adopting a game-theoretic framework, we propose a three-stage sequential game with a simultaneous form game, incorporating a war of attrition in the final stage. Our findings demonstrate that victims of bullying should consistently choose to signal to escalate the situation and report bulling rather than ignore and tolerate the abusive behavior. Additionally, we explore how leveraging the narcissist's inherent fears can empower the victim in selecting the most advantageous equilibrium solution. By employing this comprehensive approach, individuals facing a narcissistic boss bullying can effectively address and mitigate these challenging circumstances.

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  • Pascal Stiefenhofer & Cafer Deniz & Liangxun Xie & Jing Qian, 2025. "My Boss is a Narcissist Bully: A Game Theoretic Approach to Stop Bullies," Papers 2503.14262, arXiv.org.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2503.14262
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    File URL: http://arxiv.org/pdf/2503.14262
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nielsen, M.B. & Nielsen, G.H. & Notelaers, G. & Einarsen, S., 2015. "Workplace bullying and suicidal ideation: A 3-wave longitudinal Norwegian study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(11), pages 23-28.
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