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Psychological Contract Breach, Negative Reciprocity, and Abusive Supervision: The Mediated Effect of Organizational Identification

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2015

Feng Wei  and
Steven Si
Feng Wei
Affiliation:
Tongji University, China
Steven Si
Affiliation:
Tongji University, China Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, USA
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Abstract

Previous research has indicated that abusive supervision negatively influences various organizational outcomes. However, the antecedents and psychological mechanisms of abusive supervision are not well understood, especially in the Chinese context. In this study, we propose and test a mediated moderation model to explore the interactive effect of psychological contract breach and negative reciprocity belief on abusive supervision, and the mediating effect of organizational identification. Using a sample of 268 dyads of employees and their immediate supervisors (N = 536) from six companies and two industries in China, we find that when supervisors experience breaches in psychological contract they are likely to increase abusive behaviours toward subordinates, and that the positive association is stronger the more the supervisor holds negative reciprocity beliefs. Moreover, the results indicate that organizational identification mediates the joint effect of psychological contract breach and negative reciprocity belief on abusive supervision. Theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.

Keywords

abusive supervisionnegative reciprocity belieforganizational identificationpsychological contract breach管理欺凌负向互惠信念组织认同心理契约破裂
Type
Regular Articles
Information
Management and Organization Review , Volume 9 , Issue 3: Special Issue Knowledge Search, Spillovers, and Creation in Emerging Markets , November 2013 , pp. 541 - 561
Copyright
Copyright © International Association for Chinese Management Research 2013

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