Spiteful People Create Toxic Environments

3 minutes

Written and verified by the psychologist Valeria Sabater.

Last update: 15 November, 2021

Spiteful people create toxic environments full of contagious negativity. We feel it at home and at work, where the air seems contaminated, where stress and fear is palpable, and unhappiness pervades.

Work environment experts usually categorize organizations into “toxic environments” versus “nurturing environments”. For some reason we can feel it immediately.

While there are standard variables for objective, rigorous measurements, but sometimes it’s enough to just walk through a company. You breathe in the tension, discomfort, and the pressure and see it written on the faces of the employees.

Let’s dig deeper…

Fearful and distrustful woman defending herself from toxic environments

Unhappiness reigns in toxic environments

The term “toxic people” is popular right now. However, we have to be careful to not abuse it. Sometimes we put this label on a person who actually is living with depression, anxiety disorder, or any number of clinical problems. Let’s be sensitive when handling this subject.

On the other hand, it’s clear that the climate that spiteful people create is full of conflict, mistreatment, and a complete lack of empathy or intimacy with those in it.

A few years ago, the economics magazine “Fortune“, which often does rankings, made a list of the best companies to work around the world. To assess this, they didn’t use variables like salary or benefits. They evaluated employee satisfaction. They found that most companies had toxic environments, and that it was systemic and chronic.

Sometimes it is not enough to replace managers. The structure and the policy of certain companies have created environment based on control, on achievement over health, and a “keep-your-head-down” culture, where people feel forced to keep their mouth shut or lose their job.

Little by little, unhappiness, fear, and doubt grows, undermining productivity, innovation, creativity and most of all, health.

a woman riding a rabbit, picture of toxic environments

We need to build “nurturing environments”

Throughout our lives we’ll keep coming across people who love conflict. However, we won’t always be able to distance ourselves. It’s not always so easy to break away and stop seeing the person.

A few years ago the “life coaches” started to become popular. These are people trained in creating an environment of trust and good communication, where employees feel truly happy and valued.

While it may seem obvious that companies could benefit from employees feeling that way, they have been overlooking it. Until now.

Let’s try to change policies, mentalities and perspectives. And actually we’re not just talking about working environments, but also schools, the new generation.

Nurturing environments have a sense of permanence, where respect and personal dignity are defended, where creativity, personal growth and an authentic, intimate and palpable empathy are encouraged.

So let us create more human environments. Let’s start with the people closest to us, who we spend our days with. It will be worth it.