Backstabbing generally stems from jealousy, ambition and/or greed and that it is especially prevalent in environments
that combine scarce resources, weak people and little or no accountability.
So what can you do to avoid turning your back into a knife rack?
1. Think Before You Speak. Be careful not to say anything to anyone in the office that you wouldn't want repeated.
Instead, find a mentor outside the company to reduce the likelihood that your secrets will be used against you.
2. Know How to Spot a Backstabber. Is there a mismatch between a friend's words and actions? Do you continue to "misread"
a co-worker's intentions? Does a friend's smile or praise seem false or a bit forced? Finally, does the individual have a
history of backstabbing? People who have backstabbed before are likely to do so again, so learn from their past victims' experience.
3. Ally Yourself With Others; Distance Yourself From the Backstabber. Stay as far away as you can from backstabbers
while still maintaining your professionalism. But do form alliances with trustworthy colleagues for support, protection and
to stay tuned into the grapevine.
4. Get Clarification. If the backstabber is your boss, ask for and record in writing the specific procedures your
boss wants you to follow, the result he or she is after and the performance standards by which you will be evaluated. Supervisors
can get away with backstabbing when there is ambiguity. Clarity usually puts an end to the confusion – and the backstabbing.
5. Handle Confrontations Publicly. Politely calling the backstabber on his actions in public. For example: "Your
being critical of this idea surprises me, as you gave me your full support and endorsed it when we met in my office last week."
Backstabbers are obsessed with appearances and want to appear cool and collected.
As long as you remain emotionally
in control when you confront them in public, you will embarrass them enough that they will leave you alone.
6. Take the High Road. Don't get into a mudslinging match. It will only make you look worse. Acting with integrity
and dignity usually pays off in the shortrun and always pays off in the longrun.
How can psychology logically help in the attainment of truth?
Understanding the way the mind works can be very helpful in ascertaining truth. For example, if you show a video of two
cars crashing and ask "How fast were they going when they came into contact" versus "How fast were the cars going when they
SMASHED into each other", people will give different answers because of the suggestion alone.
Knowing that people can be confused, manipulated, or skew what they say based on suggestions can help you know what to
trust and what not to.
