Interpersonal Mistreatment—Definitions of Offensive Behaviors

Abstract

Having introduced the overall concept of deviant behaviors, the present chapter introduces the theoretical roots of interpersonal mistreatment and exam- ines the relationships between earlier and more recent conceptualizations of this phenomenon. A wide range of definitions and constructs that demonstrate different aspects of interpersonal mistreatment is introduced, and reciprocities and differ- ences between them are highlighted. This discussion eventually leads the reader to the central theme of the book—the concept of incivility.