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Is abusive supervision an absolute devil? Literature review and research agenda

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  • Jialiang Zhang

    (Renmin University of China)

  • Jun Liu

    (Renmin University of China)

Abstract

Abusive supervision has received increasing attention in the field. However, few studies have qualitatively reviewed its latest developments. The current paper reviews 48 studies on abusive supervision using content analysis. We identify six emerging trends of abusive supervision, including inconsistency of abusive behaviors, comparison between perceived and objective behaviors, reciprocity, team-level climate, coworker effects, and comparisons between theoretical perspectives. Based on a review of those six trends and some emerging findings, we identify and validate the possible positive effects of abusive supervision from an integrated analysis. We also determine the moderating role that Asian culture plays in differentiating the negative and positive effects of abusive supervision. Specifically, we identify the differences between Asian and Western cultures, and then explore the moral mechanisms (i.e., violation of moral standards, conflict of moral principles) through which abusive supervision may exert positive effects in the Asian cultural context. Finally, we clarify our theoretical implications and provide suggestions for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Jialiang Zhang & Jun Liu, 2018. "Is abusive supervision an absolute devil? Literature review and research agenda," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 719-744, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:asiapa:v:35:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s10490-017-9551-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10490-017-9551-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yucheng Zhang & Timothy C. Bednall, 2016. "Antecedents of Abusive Supervision: a Meta-analytic Review," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 455-471, December.
    2. Ma, Hao & Karri, Ranjan & Chittipeddi, Kumar, 2004. "The paradox of managerial tyranny," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 33-40.
    3. Yucheng Zhang & Zhenyu Liao, 2015. "Consequences of abusive supervision: A meta-analytic review," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 959-987, December.
    4. Kan Ouyang & Wing Lam & Weidong Wang, 2015. "Roles of gender and identification on abusive supervision and proactive behavior," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 32(3), pages 671-691, September.
    5. Yan Li & Neal M. Ashkanasy & Khalid Mehmood, 2017. "The experience of anger and sadness in response to hurtful behavior: Effects of gender-pairing and national culture," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 423-441, June.
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    1. Srikanth, Peruvemba B. & Thakur, Munish & Dust, Scott B., 2022. "The curvilinear relationship between abusive supervision and performance: The moderating role of conscientiousness and the mediating role of attentiveness," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 663-675.
    2. Peikai Li & Kui Yin & Jian Shi & Tom G. E. Damen & Toon W. Taris, 2024. "Are Bad Leaders Indeed Bad for Employees? A Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies Between Destructive Leadership and Employee Outcomes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 191(2), pages 399-413, May.
    3. Daphne W. Yiu & Long W. Lam & Ajai Gaur & Seung-Hyun Lee & Chi-Sum Wong, 2018. "Asian relevance, global impact: Asian management research entering a new era," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 565-571, September.
    4. Shin-Guang Liang, 2023. "I just don’t want to lose face: A self-image reparative response framework of how and when abused subordinates improve their performance," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 1461-1480, December.
    5. Ying-Ni Cheng & Changya Hu & Sheng Wang & Jui-Chieh Huang, 2024. "Political context matters: a joint effect of coercive power and perceived organizational politics on abusive supervision and silence," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 81-106, March.
    6. Hong Zhu & Yijing Lyu & Yijiao Ye, 2021. "The impact of customer incivility on employees’ family undermining: a conservation of resources perspective," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 1061-1083, September.
    7. Srikanth, Peruvemba B. & Thakur, Munish, 2022. "The influence of karma duty orientation and attention regulation in the relationship between abusive supervision and subordinate performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 278-288.
    8. Jatinder Kumar Jha & Kashika Sud, 2021. "Exploring Influence Mechanism of Abusive Supervision on Subordinates’ Work Incivility: A Proposed Framework," Business Perspectives and Research, , vol. 9(2), pages 324-339, May.
    9. Seonggoo Ji & Ihsan Ullah Jan, 2020. "Antecedents and Consequences of Frontline Employee’s Trust-in-Supervisor and Trust-in-Coworker," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-17, January.
    10. 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.
    11. Shahab Ali & Iftikhar Hussain & Farrukh Shahzad & Aneeqa Afaq, 2022. "A Multidimensional Model of Abusive Supervision and Work Incivility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-14, May.
    12. Arindam Bhattacharjee & Anita Sarkar, 2024. "Abusive supervision: a systematic literature review," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 74(1), pages 1-34, February.

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