Texas A&M University (TAMU) MGMT363 Managing People in Organizations Exam 1 Practice Exam

The term that best captures hostile verbal and physical actions directed toward others in the workplace is harassment. Harassment encompasses a wide range of behaviors that are abusive, offensive, or intimidating and can include both verbal and physical actions. It specifically refers to actions that are unwelcome and create a hostile work environment.

While personal aggression might seem relevant, it generally refers more specifically to behaviors intended to harm or intimidate an individual, often in a personal context. In contrast, harassment is broader and can involve patterns of mistreatment rather than isolated incidents.

Gossiping pertains to informal communication about others, often involving sharing of rumors or negative information, but it doesn't necessarily imply hostility directed toward individuals in a physical manner.

Incivility refers to rude or unsociable behavior that may not be outright hostile but undermines the workplace atmosphere, yet it doesn't encompass the aggressive, targeted actions that harassment does.

Therefore, the correct term that identifies hostile verbal and physical actions directed at others in the workplace is harassment.