I ran across this: The Art of Verbal Intimidation, I thought it was interesting but not very self-defense related. It is more geared toward difficult people at work. Management by intimidation is a sign of a company on the rocks.

The real lesson is that you must be assertive. Understand what your operating parameters are (both in the workplace and other areas of your life.) I am not going to get screamed at. I am not going to get touched. I am not going to let someone get in my face to talk to me. On the street this sort of behavior is a pre-cursor to violence, why would that be any different in the workplace?

Anyway, I have used a couple of cheap verbal tricks in the past myself. I had a boss that like to yell and throw things. He directed this at me one day, so I stood up and said firmly "If you don't stop threatening me someone is going to get hurt." He quickly denied that he threatened me, and I quickly responded that he was behaving in a manner consistent with being a threat.