UNVEILING WORKPLACE PSYCHOLOGICAL HARASSMENT: THE CONTRIBUTION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FORENSIC EXAMINATION

Abstract

This study aims to understand the contribution of forensic psychological expertise in the context of workplace psychological harassment. For this purpose, an exploratory and descriptive documentary research was conducted, utilizing data from a labor lawsuit at the Superior Labor Court intentionally selected to constitute a case study. The selected case involves an employee from a financial institution who sought legal redress for material and immaterial damages resulting from workplace psychological harassment. To substantiate the causal link of the alleged psychological harm, the judge responsible for the case requested a forensic psychological examination. Analyzing the case, it could be inferred that: (a) the psychologist's work played a crucial role in the forensic psychological examination to establish the causal link between workplace psychological harassment and psychological harm. Their expertise allowed for a meticulous assessment of the psychological impacts suffered by the victim, precisely identifying the connections between harassment practices and the presented psychological damages; (b) the specific instruments and methods adopted by the forensic psychologist aided in analyzing the nuances of the affected worker's clinical picture, as well as understanding the causal relationship between the work environment and psychological damages; (c) the forensic report provided a technical and scientific foundation, offering important support for judicial decision-making.