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Their Pain, Our Pleasure: How and When Peer Abusive Supervision Leads to Third Parties’ Schadenfreude and Work Engagement

Author

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  • Yueqiao Qiao

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Zhe Zhang

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Ming Jia

    (Northwestern Polytechnical University)

Abstract

Abusive supervision negatively affects its direct victims. However, recent studies have begun to explore how abusive supervision affects third parties (peer abusive supervision). We use the emotion-based process model of schadenfreude as a basis to suggest that third parties will experience schadenfreude and increase their work engagement as a response to peer abusive supervision (PAS). Furthermore, we suggest that the context of competitive goal interdependence facilitates the indirect relationship between PAS and third parties’ work engagement on schadenfreude. We use a mixed-method approach to test our hypotheses. Data from an experimental study conducted by facial expression analysis technology (Study 1, a 2 × 2 design, N = 104) and a multi‐wave field study (Study 2, N = 229) generally support our hypotheses. Overall, our study extends PAS literature and meaningfully informs practitioners who aim to promote ethical workplace environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Yueqiao Qiao & Zhe Zhang & Ming Jia, 2021. "Their Pain, Our Pleasure: How and When Peer Abusive Supervision Leads to Third Parties’ Schadenfreude and Work Engagement," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(4), pages 695-711, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:169:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-019-04315-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-019-04315-4
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    3. Darryl B. Rice & Regina M. Taylor & Yiding Wang & Sijing Wei & Valentina Ge, 2023. "My Company Cares About My Success…I Think: Clarifying Why and When a Firm’s Ethical Reputation Impacts Employees’ Subjective Career Success," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 186(1), pages 159-177, August.
    4. Yahua Cai & Fufu Sun & Jingsong Li, 2024. "Following the abusive leader? When and how abusive supervision influences victim’s creativity through observers," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 41(2), pages 679-700, June.
    5. Wen Zhang & Wei Liu & Yingyee Wu & Chenlu Ma & Xiyao Xiao & Xichao Zhang, 2022. "How Fear of External Threats Plays Roles: An Examination of Supervisors’ Trait Anger, Abusive Supervision, Subordinate Burnout and CCB," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Zhe Zhang & Mijia Gong & Shanshan Zhang & Ming Jia, 2023. "Buffering or Aggravating Effect? Examining the Effects of Prior Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Social Irresponsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(1), pages 147-163, February.

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