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The Danger of Blindly Following: Examining the Relationship Between Authoritarian Leadership and Unethical Pro-organizational Behaviors

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  • Liu, Fangzhou
  • Liang, Jian
  • Chen, Mo

Abstract

Researchers have paid much attention to the performance implications of authoritarian leadership. However, less effort has been devoted to exploring its ethical consequences at work. Drawing on the social cognitive theory of morality, this study explores the indirect relationship between authoritarian leadership and subordinates’ unethical pro-organizational behaviors (UPB) via displacement of responsibility. A vignette-based experimental study (Study 1) and a time-lagged field study (Study 2) were conducted to test our hypotheses. Consistent findings were accumulated for the indirect relationship between authoritarian leadership and UPB through displacement of responsibility (both Study 1 and 2). Furthermore, this indirect relationship was stronger among employees with low level of moral efficacy (Study 2). We conclude this study by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Fangzhou & Liang, Jian & Chen, Mo, 2021. "The Danger of Blindly Following: Examining the Relationship Between Authoritarian Leadership and Unethical Pro-organizational Behaviors," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(3), pages 524-550, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:maorev:v:17:y:2021:i:3:p:524-550_5
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Xin Lucy & Lu, Jackson G. & Zhang, Hongyu & Cai, Yahua, 2021. "Helping the organization but hurting yourself: How employees’ unethical pro-organizational behavior predicts work-to-life conflict," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 88-100.
    2. Qiufeng Huang & Kaili Zhang & Yanqun Wang & Ali Ahmad Bodla & Duogang Zhu, 2022. "When Is Authoritarian Leadership Less Detrimental? The Role of Leader Capability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Yuxiang Luan & Kai Zhao & Zheyuan Wang & Feng Hu, 2023. "Exploring the Antecedents of Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior (UPB): A Meta-Analysis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 187(1), pages 119-136, September.
    4. Lukas Lanz & Roman Briker & Fabiola H. Gerpott, 2024. "Employees Adhere More to Unethical Instructions from Human Than AI Supervisors: Complementing Experimental Evidence with Machine Learning," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(3), pages 625-646, January.

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