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Being sensitive to positives has its negatives: An approach/avoidance perspective on reactivity to ostracism

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  • Lance Ferris, D.
  • Fatimah, Shereen
  • Yan, Ming
  • Liang, Lindie H.
  • Lian, Huiwen
  • Brown, Douglas J.

Abstract

Workplace mistreatment is typically conceptualized as being exposed to a negative stimulus – for example, a threat, verbal abuse, or other forms of harassment. Consequently, we expect workplace mistreatment will have the greatest effect on individuals who are sensitive to the presence and absence of negative stimuli – or those with a strong avoidance temperament. Although this may be the rule for most mistreatment constructs, we argue that ostracism may be the exception. Using an approach/avoidance framework to highlight unique elements of ostracism, we build on the definition of ostracism as being the absence of an expected positive stimulus (i.e., social interaction that is withheld) to argue ostracism should have the greatest impact on those who are sensitive to the presence and absence of positive stimuli – or those with a strong approach temperament. Across a scenario study, a study of student teams, and a field study, we found that a strong approach temperament exacerbated the effects of ostracism on citizenship behaviors, while a strong avoidance temperament did not. Implications for the ostracism and mistreatment literatures are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Lance Ferris, D. & Fatimah, Shereen & Yan, Ming & Liang, Lindie H. & Lian, Huiwen & Brown, Douglas J., 2019. "Being sensitive to positives has its negatives: An approach/avoidance perspective on reactivity to ostracism," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 138-149.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jobhdp:v:152:y:2019:i:c:p:138-149
    DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2019.05.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wu, Long-Zeng & Ferris, D. Lance & Kwan, Ho Kwong & Chiang, Flora & Snape, Ed & Liang, Lindie H., 2015. "Breaking (or making) the silence: How goal interdependence and social skill predict being ostracized," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 51-66.
    2. Long‐Zeng Wu & Frederick Hong‐kit Yim & Ho Kwong Kwan & Xiaomeng Zhang, 2012. "Coping with Workplace Ostracism: The Roles of Ingratiation and Political Skill in Employee Psychological Distress," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(1), pages 178-199, January.
    3. Jane O'Reilly & Sandra L. Robinson & Jennifer L. Berdahl & Sara Banki, 2015. "Is Negative Attention Better Than No Attention? The Comparative Effects of Ostracism and Harassment at Work," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(3), pages 774-793, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Neelam Kaushal & Neeraj Kaushik & Brijesh Sivathanu, 2021. "Workplace ostracism in various organizations: a systematic review and bibliometric analysis," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 71(4), pages 783-818, October.
    2. Follmer, Kayla B. & Follmer, D. Jake, 2021. "Longitudinal relations between workplace mistreatment and engagement – The role of suicidal ideation among employees with mood disorders," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 206-217.

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