Gender differences in the manifestations of destructive behavior in the professional environment in a crisis

destructive behaviour in the professional environment – in crisis – manifests itself as a disruption of organisational stability, reinforcing stress-induced dysfunctions; it alters workplace dynamics (crises act as amplifiers of existing tensions, exacerbating behavioural asymmetries rooted in socio-cultural conditioning). The purpose of this study is to examine the gendered manifestations of such behaviour, addressing a critical gap in theoretical frameworks that do not sufficiently account for the intersection of psychological stress mechanisms and occupational hierarchies (previous studies isolate behavioural typologies but ignore the systemic interaction between crisis factors and gender responses). Objective: to analyse the differential manifestations of ‘active-destructive’ (aggression/confrontation) and ‘passive-destructive’ (withdrawal/avoidance) behaviours by gender categories in high-stress professional environments, integrating psychological, sociological and organisational perspectives (existing literature presents fragmentary interpretations). A mixed method approach combining quantitative regression analysis (identifying statistical correlations between stress indicators and behavioural manifestations) and qualitative thematic analysis (extracting contextual information from semi-structured interviews) is used; sampling criteria include industry exposure to crisis, thus ensuring empirical validity in the professional hierarchy (response rate: 78%). Results: men show aggressive/confrontational behaviour (correlation coefficient: 0.32, p<0.01), women predominantly withdrawn/emotional detachment (correlation coefficient: 0.41, p<0.01); increased stress reinforces these tendencies: cortisol levels in male respondents in crisis scenarios increase by 23%, which correlates with increased aggression (in women, emotional fatigue increases by 31%, which reinforces avoidance). The findings allow for the development of crisis management measures: adaptive management strategies and gender-sensitive psychological support mitigate workplace disruptions, increasing organisational resilience (policies that consider gender reactions to stress allow for the restoration of workforce stability).

gender differences, disruptive behavior, crisis conditions, workplace dynamics, stress amplification, organizational management, behavioral interventions