From Basil Fawlty to Captain Manwaring, the bullying boss has been a staple of British comedy for some years.But if you're suffering at the hands of a nasty superior, it may cheer you up to know that it's most likely down to their own inadequacies.
Research published in the journal Psychological Science, has found that it is often those in managerial positions that are troubled by their own responsibilities and will throw their toys out of the pram.
And unsurprisingly, it was the combination of incompetence and empowerment that brought out the worst in people.
They study by the University of Southern California, psychologists used a number of tried and tested techniques to manipulate the sense of power and self worth of 90 unsuspecting volunteers.
Each was then asked to select a punishment to give to others who had made errors, choosing the decibel level of a horn to vent their frustrations.
Those who were feeling empowered but rather inadequate selected the loudest punishments.
Serena Chen, co-author of the study, said: "Incompetence alone doesn't lead to aggression.
"It's the combination of having a high-power role and fearing that one is not up to the task that causes power holders to lash out. And our data suggest it's ultimately about self-worth."
Some participants, whose egos were severely bruised, even went so far as to sabotage a lowly staff member's chances of winning a prize.
But there is a way to disarm the bully boss – flattery.
Careful though, excessive flattery in the long-term may cause your boss "to lose touch with reality"... chances are we've all met one of those in our time.
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