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Can Job Stressors Activate Amoral Manipulation? A Weekly Diary Study

Author

Listed:
  • Gloria Xiaocheng Ma

    (Erasmus University)

  • Paraskevas Petrou

    (Erasmus University)

  • Arnold B. Bakker

    (Erasmus University
    University of Johannesburg)

  • Marise Ph. Born

    (Erasmus University
    North-West University)

Abstract

This study investigates whether job stressors such as role ambiguity, procedural unfairness, and perceived competition may prompt high Machiavellian employees to use amoral manipulation at work. We also examine whether these manipulative behaviors are consequently related to their own task performance and affiliative citizenship behaviors. A weekly diary study was conducted among 111 Dutch employees over five consecutive working weeks, resulting in 446 assessed occasions. Using a multilevel moderated mediation model, we found that the relationship between weekly job stressors and weekly amoral manipulation (AM) was contingent on trait AM, when the job stressor was role ambiguity (but not when the job stressor was either weekly procedural unfairness or weekly perceived competition). Our results also revealed significant indirect effects of weekly role ambiguity on weekly task performance and weekly display of courtesy through state AM, when trait AM was high. Our findings suggest that role ambiguity activates high Machiavellian employees’ manipulative behaviors at work, which in turn leads to impaired task performance and less courtesy toward others during the same working week.

Suggested Citation

  • Gloria Xiaocheng Ma & Paraskevas Petrou & Arnold B. Bakker & Marise Ph. Born, 2023. "Can Job Stressors Activate Amoral Manipulation? A Weekly Diary Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 185(2), pages 467-482, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:185:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-022-05170-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-022-05170-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Colquitt, Jason A. & Scott, Brent A. & Judge, Timothy A. & Shaw, John C., 2006. "Justice and personality: Using integrative theories to derive moderators of justice effects," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 100(1), pages 110-127, May.
    2. Anthony M. Marino & Ján Zábojník, 2004. "Internal Competition for Corporate Resources and Incentives in Teams," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 35(4), pages 710-727, Winter.
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