Introduction
Hirigoyen writes as a clinician and victimologist with the explicit aim of making an “invisible” form of violence visible. She problematises the tendency of professionals and laypersons to minimise non-physical abuse and to attribute responsibility to victims. The book therefore functions as both diagnostic manual and a call for social and legal recognition of psychological violence. (Le Monde.fr) Elle décrit les mécanismes invisibles de la manipulation, les étapes de la domination perverse, ainsi que leurs conséquences destructrices sur la santé mentale et l’identité des victimes.
Hirigoyen cherche à démystifier la violence psychologique et à briser le silence entourant les victimes. Elle veut démontrer que le harcèlement moral n’est pas un simple conflit interpersonnel mais un processus de destruction progressive, fondé sur la manipulation, la culpabilisation et la domination. L’auteure s’adresse autant aux victimes qu’aux professionnels de la santé et du droit, dans une démarche à la fois clinique et militante (Hirigoyen, 1999).
Theoretical framing and method
The author draws on: (1) psychiatric/psychodynamic understanding of trauma and identity erosion; (2) interviews and written testimonies from victims; and (3) medico-legal observation. Rather than formal quantitative methods, Hirigoyen uses qualitative clinical vignettes to reconstruct repetitive interaction patterns and to argue for the corrosive effects of sustained, low-grade aggression. (Google Books)
L’analyse s’appuie sur la psychopathologie des personnalités perverses narcissiques, sur la victimologie, et sur des témoignages cliniques recueillis auprès de patients.
Hirigoyen privilégie une méthode qualitative et descriptive, illustrant son propos par de nombreux cas concrets. Sa démarche vise à révéler les mécanismes subtils de l’emprise psychique — tels que la dévalorisation, le mensonge, la double contrainte et l’isolement social (Hirigoyen, 1998).
Core concepts and argument (succinct)
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Definition of moral harassment / emotional abuse. Small, repeated aggressions (words, looks, insinuations) accumulate into systematic psychological domination that can produce depression and suicidal ideation. (Éditions La Découverte)
La victime souffre de perte d’estime de soi, d’angoisse, de culpabilité, de dépression, voire d’un état de stress post-traumatique. Le harcèlement agit comme un meurtre psychique, effaçant progressivement la personnalité.
Structure and illustrative material
The book is organised into thematic chapters that move from definition and clinical signs to concrete case studies and then to recommendations for victims and professionals. Hirigoyen includes many first-person accounts to ground theoretical claims and to demonstrate the typical trace of escalation in harassment episodes. (Google Books)
Practical recommendations and interventions
Hirigoyen offers concrete steps: documenting incidents, seeking third-party evaluation, re-establishing social support, and — where necessary — legal recourse. She also emphasizes the role of institutions (employers, health professionals, courts) in detection and prevention. The book ends with advice aimed at helping victims reconstruct identity and regain autonomy. (mariefrance-hirigoyen.com)
Impact and critique
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Impact: The book had wide public resonance (translated into many languages) and is often credited with shaping French and international discussion of harcèlement moral, especially in the workplace and family law debates. Scholars of workplace bullying and “mobbing” frequently cite Hirigoyen’s conceptualisation as formative for later comparative research. (mariefrance-hirigoyen.com)
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Critical points: Because the work is largely qualitative and clinical, some reviewers call for more systematic empirical validation (e.g., longitudinal studies, cross-cultural comparisons). Others note potential over-generalisation from clinical cases to all organisational settings. Still, its value as a clinical-sociological intervention and an activist text is widely recognized. (Cairn SHS)
Conclusion
Hirigoyen’s Le harcèlement moral remains a foundational text for understanding psychological violence. Its principal contribution is to show how recurrent, apparently minor hostile acts aggregate into a coherent pattern of domination that damages victims’ mental health and identity. The book’s blend of clinical detail, vivid testimony and practical guidance made it influential both in public policy debates and in professional practice. (Éditions La Découverte)
References
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Hirigoyen, M.-F. (1998). Le harcèlement moral : La violence perverse au quotidien. Syros / later editions: La Découverte. (French original; widely reprinted). (Éditions La Découverte)
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Hirigoyen, M.-F. (1999). Stalking the Soul: Emotional Abuse and the Erosion of Identity (English trans.). — English translation/edition and publisher information. (Google Books)
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Author website / publisher pages with summaries and context: Marie-France Hirigoyen — Stalking the Soul summary and topical pages. (mariefrance-hirigoyen.com)
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Le Monde (profile): “Marie-France Hirigoyen, une psy à l’écoute des blessures invisibles” — contextual article on the author’s influence and recent work. (April 2024). (Le Monde.fr)
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Comparative literature on workplace bullying that references the harcèlement moral concept (for further reading): Budnik et al., Mobbing and harcèlement moral in comparative perspective (example literature discussing influence). (ScienceDirect)
Hirigoyen, M.-F. (2001). Le harcèlement moral dans la vie professionnelle. Paris : La Découverte.
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Leymann, H. (1996). Mobbing: La persécution au travail. Paris : Seuil.
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Einarsen, S., Hoel, H., Zapf, D., & Cooper, C. L. (2003). Bullying and Emotional Abuse in the Workplace. London : Taylor & Francis.
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Guillon, J.-C. (2004). « Le harcèlement moral et la reconnaissance juridique du dommage psychologique. » Revue française de gestion, 30(151), 67-78.
