Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terrorization [LIPT-45]

Description

The Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terrorization (LIPT-45) is a psychometric instrument developed to assess psychological harassment, workplace bullying, and mobbing in occupational settings. It is based on the theoretical work of Heinz Leymann and focuses on repeated hostile, humiliating, or intimidating behaviors that an individual may experience in the workplace.

The scale includes 45 different behaviors covering forms of psychological pressure, social exclusion, professional undermining, devaluation, and intimidation. The LIPT does not primarily focus on isolated negative incidents, but rather on systematic and repeated exposure to adverse workplace behaviors.

Scale Dimensions

The behaviors assessed by the LIPT-45 mainly concern the following categories:

Restriction of Communication: behaviors that prevent individuals from expressing themselves, participating in professional discussions, or communicating effectively with colleagues and supervisors.

Social Isolation: actions leading to marginalization, avoidance, or deliberate exclusion of the employee from social and professional interactions.

Attacks on Personal and Professional Reputation: behaviors such as ridicule, humiliation, spreading rumors, offensive comments, or persistent negative criticism.

Undermining of Occupational Position: actions that question the employee’s competence, role, or professional value, including the assignment of inappropriate, meaningless, or degrading tasks.

Threats to Physical or Psychological Well-Being: intimidating, threatening, or aggressive behaviors that may affect the individual’s sense of safety and overall well-being.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the LIPT-45 is to identify and systematically document behaviors associated with psychological harassment in the workplace.

The instrument may be used to investigate the extent and frequency of negative behaviors experienced by employees and to examine their relationship with factors such as occupational stress, burnout, job satisfaction, psychological well-being, absenteeism, and organizational functioning.

Scoring

The LIPT-45 is based on individuals’ reports of exposure to the behaviors described in the scale items. Depending on the specific version or adaptation, assessment may focus on the number of different negative behaviors experienced, their frequency, or the duration of exposure.

Higher scores generally indicate a greater degree of exposure to workplace psychological harassment. Interpretation should take into account not only the total number of reported behaviors but also their frequency, duration, and the organizational context in which they occur.

Research and Practical Utility

The LIPT-45 can be used in organizational and occupational psychology, human resource management, occupational health, and research on psychosocial risks in the workplace.

Its use may contribute to the study of associations between mobbing and burnout, psychological distress, work engagement, workplace conflict, reduced productivity, and intention to leave the organization.

Results from the scale should not be used in isolation as definitive clinical or legal evidence of workplace harassment. They are better interpreted alongside additional information concerning the duration, frequency, and context of the reported behaviors.

References

Leymann, H. (1990). Mobbing and psychological terror at workplaces. Violence and Victims, 5(2), 119–126.

Leymann, H. (1996). The content and development of mobbing at work. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 5(2), 165–184.