Interview with Fernando Azor: the expert psychologist in cases of mobbing

Workplace harassment, or mobbing, it is a problem that affects more people than it seems; Several investigations suggest that these attacks are suffered by around 10% of the workers who are exercising.

The consequences of this form of harassment go beyond the discomfort generated by the attacks at the specific moments in which they occur; In addition, they can favor the appearance of physical or psychological disorders, and they usually imply obstacles when it comes to ascending or progressing in the professional career.

However, psychology can intervene in these cases both by helping the victims through psychological support professional in therapy, as well as in processes of expertise that help to record the scope of these attacks and their consequences. To better understand this last point, we have interviewed the psychologist Fernando Azor, expert in psychological expertise.

• Related article: "What is a forensic expertise in Psychology?"

Fernando Azor: psychological expertise applied to mobbing cases

Fernando Azor Lafarga he is a psychologist specialized in clinical psychology, psychological eritage and aeronautical psychology. He has been practicing in the field of psychological assistance for 20 years, and currently runs the Azor & Asociados center, located in Tres Cantos, although he also offers online therapy. Throughout this interview, he explains the role of the expert psychologist in cases of workplace bullying.

What are the behavior patterns that can be considered mobbing, as opposed to simple jokes in bad taste, unfriendly attitude and so on?

Conflicts are present in most of the situations in which we interact with other people. The mere fact of wanting different things makes us have to negotiate, impose, adapt... When we talk about conflict, we are talking about situations in which aggressive attitudes arise, but in most cases they have a symmetrical character. That is, there are usually threats, disqualifications, criticism, coercion and others by both parties.

In the case of mobbing, the conflict occurs in another way. There is usually a part that coerces and attacks, and another that, although it defends itself, has few options to do so.

In cases of workplace bullying that have been taken to court, is the psychologist's expert report always used? to record the existence or absence of psychological sequelae in the victim, or may have other applications?

The expert report is not always requested within a legal process. But of course it brings important differences when facing a trial or a negotiation. As you say, one of the most frequent uses of an expert is to record that an event has left psychological consequences. It is assessed whether certain psychological problems are compatible with the facts being assessed. In addition, other causes that could precipitate the same problem are sought to make a differential assessment.

In addition to assessing the consequences, the previous state of the victim or aggressor is analyzed, depending on the objective of the evaluation. In this way, a more detailed analysis of the situation can be made. The previous history is analyzed and the previous clinical reports that may have been generated are studied.

What strategic advantages does the fact of having the expert psychological report bring to the victim of bullying, in terms of the probability that the judicial process will serve to repair damages?

With an expert report, a symptomatology can be certified, and its compatibility with a picture by posttraumatic stress or an adjustment disorder. When our HI-mob forensic tool is applied, computer analysis, criminal analysis and certification of messaging and email conversations are added. When there is evidence in communications, we can unite a lot of data that makes harassing behavior at work evident.

In the psychological expert report, other possible causes are ruled out and the relationship between the symptomatology and the denounced situation, that is, the repercussions are analyzed forensics.

What are the most important particularities that you would highlight in the expert appraisal processes applied to workplace harassment? For example, by comparing them with other common cases in this area, such as child custody disputes in divorce proceedings, or the psychological consequences of accidents or attacks.

In cases of workplace harassment, the main problem is that it is not easy to observe and certify the coercion itself. For this reason, we seek to detect the emotional imprint left by this type of situation. In that sense it resembles parental alienation syndrome.

When a person requests the services of a psychologist with expertise in expertise, does the latter advise them on which aspects to investigate are most relevant to their interests? Or are you limited to exploring what the client tells you?

The expert evaluation is quite regulated in terms of the aspects to be evaluated, what happens is that Depending on the approach that a lawyer wants to give to the case, more or less emphasis can be placed on some factors. By combining forensic work with that of the lawyer, we are more effective in observing, analyzing and giving objectivity to legal arguments.

What are the main work stages that a psychologist must go through when obtaining information and issuing a forensic psychological report in these cases of mobbing?

The first thing is to study the feasibility of the report. Indicators of bullying must be assessed and a differential assessment must be made with a conflict.

From there, the evaluation is carried out through the interview and psychometric tests. With these data, the documentation provided prior to the expert is analyzed, such as sick leave reports, injury reports, complaints, psychotherapy treatments... With these data, all the information is integrated and the psychological expert is properly carried out.

What are the privacy and confidentiality standards in the process of gathering information to make the report?

A report is associated with a large amount of information that is collected within the evaluation process and itself for the preparation of the content. In addition, it is necessary to analyze other previous reports and bibliography. For all this it is vital that data protection protocols are complied with. It is highly sensitive information and must be encrypted and stored in secure locations.