IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jbuset/v153y2018i3d10.1007_s10551-016-3348-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Victim and Culprit? The Effects of Entitlement and Felt Accountability on Perceptions of Abusive Supervision and Perpetration of Workplace Bullying

Author

Listed:
  • Jeremy D. Mackey

    (Auburn University)

  • Jeremy R. Brees

    (University of Scranton)

  • Charn P. McAllister

    (Florida State University)

  • Michelle L. Zorn

    (Auburn University)

  • Mark J. Martinko

    (Florida A&M University)

  • Paul Harvey

    (University of New Hampshire)

Abstract

Although workplace bullying is common and has universally harmful effects on employees’ outcomes, little is known about workplace bullies. To address this gap in knowledge, we draw from the tenets of social exchange and displaced aggression theories in order to develop and test a model of workplace bullying that incorporates the effects of employees’ individual differences (i.e., entitlement), perceptions of their work environments (i.e., felt accountability), and perceptions of supervisory treatment (i.e., perceptions of abusive supervision) on their tendencies to bully coworkers. The results of mediated moderation analyses that examine responses from two samples of working adults (n Sample 1 = 396; n Sample 2 = 123) support our hypotheses. Specifically, we find evidence of an indirect relationship between entitlement and coworker bullying through perceptions of abusive supervision that is stronger for employees who report lower levels of felt accountability than employees who report higher levels of felt accountability. This study makes important theoretical and practical contributions to abusive supervision research, bullying research, and organizational efforts to promote ethical work environments devoid of interpersonal mistreatment by providing novel insight into how employees’ entitlement and felt accountability combine to influence their tendencies to perceive themselves as victims of abusive supervision and culprits of coworker bullying.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeremy D. Mackey & Jeremy R. Brees & Charn P. McAllister & Michelle L. Zorn & Mark J. Martinko & Paul Harvey, 2018. "Victim and Culprit? The Effects of Entitlement and Felt Accountability on Perceptions of Abusive Supervision and Perpetration of Workplace Bullying," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(3), pages 659-673, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:153:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-016-3348-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3348-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10551-016-3348-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10551-016-3348-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Herman Aguinis & Jeffrey R. Edwards, 2014. "Methodological Wishes for the Next Decade and How to Make Wishes Come True," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1), pages 143-174, January.
    2. Evans, Martin G., 1985. "A Monte Carlo study of the effects of correlated method variance in moderated multiple regression analysis," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 305-323, December.
    3. Elfi Baillien & Jeroen Camps & Anja Broeck & Jeroen Stouten & Lode Godderis & Maarten Sercu & Hans Witte, 2016. "Erratum to: An Eye for an Eye Will Make the Whole World Blind: Conflict Escalation into Workplace Bullying and the Role of Distributive Conflict Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 137(2), pages 431-431, August.
    4. Gang Wang & Peter Harms & Jeremy Mackey, 2015. "Does it take two to Tangle? Subordinates’ Perceptions of and Reactions to Abusive Supervision," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 131(2), pages 487-503, October.
    5. Gabriele Giorgi & Jose Leon-Perez & Alicia Arenas, 2015. "Are Bullying Behaviors Tolerated in Some Cultures? Evidence for a Curvilinear Relationship Between Workplace Bullying and Job Satisfaction Among Italian Workers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 131(1), pages 227-237, September.
    6. Jeroen Stouten & Elfi Baillien & Anja Broeck & Jeroen Camps & Hans Witte & Martin Euwema, 2010. "Discouraging Bullying: The Role of Ethical Leadership and its Effects on the Work Environment," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 95(1), pages 17-27, September.
    7. Gro Mathisen & Ståle Einarsen & Reidar Mykletun, 2011. "The Relationship Between Supervisor Personality, Supervisors’ Perceived Stress and Workplace Bullying," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 99(4), pages 637-651, April.
    8. Pamela Lutgen‐Sandvik & Sarah J. Tracy & Jess K. Alberts, 2007. "Burned by Bullying in the American Workplace: Prevalence, Perception, Degree and Impact," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(6), pages 837-862, September.
    9. Helen LaVan & Wm. Martin, 2008. "Bullying in the U.S. Workplace: Normative and Process-Oriented Ethical Approaches," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 83(2), pages 147-165, December.
    10. Al-Karim Samnani, 2013. "The Early Stages of Workplace Bullying and How It Becomes Prolonged: The Role of Culture in Predicting Target Responses," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 113(1), pages 119-132, March.
    11. Stéphane Brutus & Herman Aguinis & Ulrich Wassmer, 2013. "Self-Reported Limitations and Future Directions in Scholarly Reports : Analysis and Recommendations," Post-Print hal-02313051, HAL.
    12. Elfi Baillien & Jeroen Camps & Anja Van den Broeck & Jeroen Stouten & Lode Godderis & Maarten Sercu & Hans De Witte, 2016. "An Eye for an Eye Will Make the Whole World Blind: Conflict Escalation into Workplace Bullying and the Role of Distributive Conflict Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 137(2), pages 415-429, August.
    13. Michael Harvey & Darren Treadway & Joyce Heames & Allison Duke, 2009. "Bullying in the 21st Century Global Organization: An Ethical Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 85(1), pages 27-40, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Yonggui & Zhang, Lu, 2021. "How customer entitlement influences supplier performance in B2B relationships in emerging economy? A moderated mediation model of institutional environments," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 689-700.
    2. Jeremy D. Mackey & Charn P. McAllister & Katherine C. Alexander, 2021. "Insubordination: Validation of a Measure and an Examination of Insubordinate Responses to Unethical Supervisory Treatment," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(4), pages 755-775, February.
    3. Higgins, Monica & Dobrow, Shoshana R. & Weiner, Jennie Miles & Liu, Haiyang, 2022. "When is psychological safety helpful in organizations? A longitudinal study," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 113402, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Vítor Hugo Silva & Ana Patrícia Duarte & Joana Palmeira Oliveira, 2023. "How Does Authentic Leadership Boost Work Engagement? Exploring the Mediating Role of Work Meaningfulness and Work–Family Enrichment," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, October.
    5. Lijing Zhao & Long W. Lam & Julie N. Y. Zhu & Shuming Zhao, 2022. "Doing It Purposely? Mediation of Moral Disengagement in the Relationship Between Illegitimate Tasks and Counterproductive Work Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(3), pages 733-747, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jeremy D. Mackey & John D. Bishoff & Shanna R. Daniels & Wayne A. Hochwarter & Gerald R. Ferris, 2019. "Incivility’s Relationship with Workplace Outcomes: Enactment as a Boundary Condition in Two Samples," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 513-528, March.
    2. Al-Karim Samnani, 2013. "The Early Stages of Workplace Bullying and How It Becomes Prolonged: The Role of Culture in Predicting Target Responses," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 113(1), pages 119-132, March.
    3. Ahmad, Saima, 2018. "Can ethical leadership inhibit workplace bullying across East and West: Exploring cross-cultural interactional justice as a mediating mechanism," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 223-234.
    4. Heungsik Park & Brita Bjørkelo & John Blenkinsopp, 2020. "External Whistleblowers’ Experiences of Workplace Bullying by Superiors and Colleagues," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 161(3), pages 591-601, January.
    5. Al-Karim Samnani & Parbudyal Singh, 2016. "Workplace Bullying: Considering the Interaction Between Individual and Work Environment," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 537-549, December.
    6. Laura Francioli & Paul Maurice Conway & Åse Marie Hansen & Ann-Louise Holten & Matias Brødsgaard Grynderup & Roger Persson & Eva Gemzøe Mikkelsen & Giovanni Costa & Annie Høgh, 2018. "Quality of Leadership and Workplace Bullying: The Mediating Role of Social Community at Work in a Two-Year Follow-Up Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(4), pages 889-899, February.
    7. Wan Jiang & Qinxuan Gu & Thomas Li-Ping Tang, 2019. "Do Victims of Supervisor Bullying Suffer from Poor Creativity? Social Cognitive and Social Comparison Perspectives," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(3), pages 865-884, July.
    8. Sharon Sam Mee Kwan & Michelle R Tuckey & Maureen F Dollard, 2020. "The Malaysian Workplace Bullying Index (MWBI): A new measure of workplace bullying in Eastern countries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-20, January.
    9. Pascale Desrumaux & Nicolas Gillet & Caroline Nicolas, 2018. "Direct and Indirect Effects of Belief in a Just World and Supervisor Support on Burnout via Bullying," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, October.
    10. Gabriele Giorgi & Jose Leon-Perez & Alicia Arenas, 2015. "Are Bullying Behaviors Tolerated in Some Cultures? Evidence for a Curvilinear Relationship Between Workplace Bullying and Job Satisfaction Among Italian Workers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 131(1), pages 227-237, September.
    11. Sean Valentine & Gary Fleischman & Lynn Godkin, 2018. "Villains, Victims, and Verisimilitudes: An Exploratory Study of Unethical Corporate Values, Bullying Experiences, Psychopathy, and Selling Professionals’ Ethical Reasoning," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(1), pages 135-154, March.
    12. Clive Boddy, 2011. "Corporate Psychopaths, Bullying and Unfair Supervision in the Workplace," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 100(3), pages 367-379, May.
    13. Wu, Chia-Huei & Liu, Jun & Kwong Kwan, Ho & Lee, Cynthia, 2016. "Why and when workplace ostracism inhibits organizational citizenship behaviors: an organizational identification perspective," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 64006, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    14. Utz Schäffer & Matthias D. Mahlendorf & Jochen Rehring, 2014. "Does the Interactive Use of Headquarter Performance Measurement Systems in Foreign Subsidiaries Endanger the Potential to Profit from Local Relationships?," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 24(1), pages 21-38, March.
    15. Sherry E. Moss & Meng Song & Sean T. Hannah & Zhen Wang & John J. Sumanth, 2020. "The Duty to Improve Oneself: How Duty Orientation Mediates the Relationship Between Ethical Leadership and Followers’ Feedback-Seeking and Feedback-Avoiding Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 165(4), pages 615-631, September.
    16. Rana Muhammad Shahid Yaqub & Aneeta Rehman & Shakeela Kausar & Zakariya Hassan Qureshi, 2022. "Insights from Theory of Reason Action to Determine the Faculty Turn-Over Intentions in HEI’s of Southern Punjab: Mediating and Moderating Role of Perceived Organizational Justice and Organizational ," iRASD Journal of Management, International Research Alliance for Sustainable Development (iRASD), vol. 4(2), pages 375-389, june.
    17. Matthias Graf & Sebastian Schuh & Niels Quaquebeke & Rolf Dick, 2012. "The Relationship Between Leaders’ Group-Oriented Values and Follower Identification with and Endorsement of Leaders: The Moderating Role of Leaders’ Group Membership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 106(3), pages 301-311, March.
    18. Leung, Kwok & Wang, Zhongming & Hon, Alice H.Y., 2011. "Moderating effects on the compensation gap between locals and expatriates in China: A multi-level analysis," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 54-67, March.
    19. Daniel Arturo Cernas Ortiz & Patricia Mercado Salgado & Filadelfo León Cázares, 2018. "Satisfacción laboral y compromiso organizacional: prueba de equivalencia de medición entre México y Estados Unidos," Contaduría y Administración, Accounting and Management, vol. 63(2), pages 168-191, Abril-Jun.
    20. Federico Contu & Daniela Di Santo & Conrad Baldner & Antonio Pierro, 2023. "Examining the Interaction between Perceived Cultural Tightness and Prevention Regulatory Focus on Life Satisfaction in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-10, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:153:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-016-3348-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.