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Heroes or Villains? The Dark Side of Charismatic Leadership and Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior

Author

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  • Xue Zhang

    (Harbin Institute of Technology, School of Management, Harbin 150001, China)

  • Liang Liang

    (Harbin Institute of Technology, School of Management, Harbin 150001, China)

  • Guyang Tian

    (Harbin Institute of Technology, School of Management, Harbin 150001, China)

  • Yezhuang Tian

    (Harbin Institute of Technology, School of Management, Harbin 150001, China)

Abstract

Although prior research has emphasized the disproportional contributions to organizations of charismatic leadership, an emerging line of research has started to examine the potentially negative consequences. In this paper, a theoretical framework was proposed for a study of unethical pro-organization behavior through psychological safety based on social information processing theory, which reveals the detrimental effect that charismatic leadership can have on workplace behavior. To explore this negative possibility, a time-lagged research design was applied for the hypotheses to be verified using 214 pieces of data collected from a service company in China. According to the results, unethical pro-organizational behavior was indirectly influenced by charismatic leadership through psychological safety. Moreover, when employees experienced high performance pressure, charismatic leadership was positively associated with unethical pro-organizational behavior through psychological safety. The implications of these findings were analyzed from the perspectives of charismatic leadership theory and organizational ethical activities to alter the unethical pro-organizational behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Xue Zhang & Liang Liang & Guyang Tian & Yezhuang Tian, 2020. "Heroes or Villains? The Dark Side of Charismatic Leadership and Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5546-:d:392679
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yue Yuan & Qi Zhang & Mengxi Yang, 2023. "Such a high cost: the positive effect of leader humor on employee incivility via psychological safety," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(2), pages 529-548, April.

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