This article discusses the case of Dr. Eric Lander, former head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy under the Biden administration, who was accused of bullying several staff members by speaking "harshly and disrespectfully" and in a "demeaning and abrasive way" to colleagues in the presence of others. Dr. Lander was also accused of "retaliating against staff for speaking out and asking questions by calling them names, shunning them, taking away their duties and replacing them or driving them out of the agency." This type of behavior is colloquially called bullying and referred to as "abusive supervision" in the organizational sciences.
Abusive supervision (a.k.a. bullying) is a subordinate's perception of sustained hostile verbal and non-verbal supervisory behavior, not including physical contact. Examples include ridicule, public criticism, isolation, silent treatment, invasion of privacy, lying and withholding/taking credit. There is a large body of research in the organizational sciences which addresses the causes, consequences and contextual factors surrounding abusive supervision. A focus on the consequences of bullying reveals that workers suffer significant and sometimes serious impacts to their well-being. These take the form of lower job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion and psychological distress (anxiety and depression).
Besides these responses to the absence of psychological safety in their working environments, abused subordinates also respond behaviorally to bullying in several ways, including retaliation or deviant behavior directed at the bully or others (e.g. coworkers or family members). Sometimes, but rarely, targets of abuse will directly confront the supervisor, attempting to exert influence over the way they are being treated or ingratiate themselves to "get on the good side" of their boss. However, what is much more likely is that the bullied worker will engage in avoidant behavior such as minimizing contact and speaking only superficially with the abuser. Clearly, they believe, the less contact, the lower the chances of being bullied.
The reputation of science is that it is "tough." To be a great scientist, you have to pay your dues and this might include working your ass off and kowtowing to the whims of an abusive PI. There is also the probability that there is a trickle-down effect. Just as abused children are more likely to become abusive parents/spouses, budding scientists who were bullied by their PIs tend to become bullies themselves.
The case of Dr. Eric Lander, the former head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, may be a case in point. Coming from the world of science, where getting a PhD and becoming a renowned geneticist is a tough road to travel, it would not be surprising to learn that Dr. Lander was exposed to various bully scientists along the way. If this is true, then he may have learned that this is the way people are managed.
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