Building Integrative Model of Extra Role Work Behaviours
Building Integrative Model of Extra Role Work Behaviours
Researchers have recently drawn attention to performance elements that extend beyond
task performance (often labeled as organizational citizenship behavior, or OCB). A
second stream of research concerns detrimental, potentially destructive acts that hurt
colleagues or organizations (labeled counterproductive work behavior, or CWB).
Spector and Fox (in press) have proposed a model based upon conceptual parallels that
may help connect these two disparate fields of research, using positive and negative
emotions as intermediary variables between environmental conditions and extra-role
work behaviors. The current study tested portions of the overall model, and found
reasonable support for the components. Suggestions for further research designed to
test the overall model are presented.
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52 DONALD E. MILES, WALTER E. BORMAN, PAUL E. SPECTOR AND SUZY FOX
are two additional factors that are important in this Empirical evidence exists supporting hypothesized links
process. First, perceptions of control affect the extent to with personality. Trait anger and trait anxiety (Spielberger
which emotions are experienced in response to workplace 1979) have been shown to be related to CWBs (Fox and
events. Situations seen as controllable are more likely to Spector 1999; Fox et al. 1999). Furthermore, Ones,
induce positive emotion and situations seen as Viswesvaran and Schmidt (1993) found that integrity tests
uncontrollable are more likely to induce negative emotion. that apparently assessed three of the `Big Five' personality
Furthermore, control perceptions in combination with dimensions (Costa and McCrae 1988), conscientiousness,
emotions enhance the likelihood that OCB (high control) agreeableness, and emotional stability, were related to
or CWB (low control) will occur. Second, personality CWB. Empathy has been shown to predict helping behavior
characteristics play an important role in both OCB and in a number of settings (e.g. Allen 1999; Davis 1996;
CWB, although for the most part it seems that different Eisenberg and Miller 1987; Penner et al. 1995). Organ and
characteristics are involved for each. Affective dispositions Ryan (1995) found that conscientiousness, agreeableness,
such as state anger and anxiety, neuroticism, and positive affectivity, and negative affectivity have been
emotional experience are related to emotional response related to OCB. Borman, Penner, Allen and Motowidlo
and are therefore related to CWB. Locus of control is also (2001) reported that other personality variables, including
related to CWB. On the other hand, OCB is related to locus of control, collectivism, and personal initiative are
empathy and helpfulness, a construct devised by Penner, related to OCB.
Fritzsche, Craiger and Freifeld, (1995) that consists of a Support for the idea that CWB and OCB can be
willingness to help while maintaining emotional distance oppositely affected by the same factors comes from Hunt
and feeling high ability to help. (1996) who investigated relations among nine dimensions
The model suggests that the causal connections among of both positive and negative performance-related
these variables is neither simple nor unidirectional. behaviors for 18,146 employees from 36 companies.
Background emotional state affects perceptions, so that The positive dimensions all related negatively with the
an individual already angry or anxious will be more negative dimensions, with correlations ranging from
likely to perceive a situation in such a way that it will ÿ.11 to ÿ.73. Additionally, Robinson and O'Leary-Kelly
induce even more emotion. CWB and OCB feed back (1998) found that their measure of CWB correlated ÿ.24
into emotions ± performing a negative act may induce and ÿ.46 with two different measures of OCB.
anxiety and guilt where performing something positive
may induce positive emotions of pride and accom-
plishment. Whereas control perceptions affect per- Current Research Project
ceptions of situations, these do not occur in a vacuum
and the situation itself provides cues concerning control. This research was designed to investigate important
Finally, behaviors themselves affect the environment, and linkages in the model proposed by Spector and Fox (in
employees can find themselves caught in loops where a press), and to explore within the same study both CWB and
situation induces an emotion that results in a situation OCB. The general aim is to investigate how environmental
that induces even more of that emotion. For example, a conditions, trait anger, and positive and negative affect
person who engages in OCB might receive appreciation relate to OCB and CWB respectively. If these key linkages
and recognition that induces positive emotion and a are supported, then further research would be warranted to
greater likelihood of repeating the OCB. test the overall model more completely.
Spector and Fox (in press) discuss specific job
conditions that are likely to induce emotion and
subsequent behavior. Organizational constraints are Method
situations at work that inhibit or limit task performance
(Peters and O'Connor 1980). Results from various meta-
Participants
analyses (Spector 1997; Spector and Jex 1998) have been
interpreted as showing linkages between various Participants were 203 workers who were employed in
constraints and feelings of frustration and anxiety, as various manufacturing, financial, utility, entertainment,
well as to CWB (Chen and Spector 1992; Fox et al. 1999). and academic organizations, and were also enrolled at the
Interpersonal conflict (getting into arguments with University of South Florida. Of the participants, 65 (32%)
coworkers and poor treatment by coworkers and were men and 138 (68%) were women. Some 63 respon-
supervisors) and being the victim of abusive behavior dents (31%) worked 40 or more hours per week in their job.
also have been shown to be related to negative emotions The remaining 140 respondents (68%) worked between 20
(Spector and Jex 1998) and to CWB (Chen and Spector and 39 hours per week. Average age for the workers was 25
1992; Frone 1998). Workload has been shown to relate to years of age, with a range of 17 to 53. Some 66% of the
negative emotion (Spector and Jex 1998) and to a small workers were white, 18% were of African-American origin,
extent to CWB (Chen and Spector 1992). and 12% were of Hispanic or Latin American origin.
Table 1. Means, standard deviations, reliabilities and correlation coefficients of study variables
Variable M SD 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
counterproductive behaviors. Sample items include: inversely with positive emotions (r = -.22). Negative
`Insulted someone about their job performance'; `Made emotions and positive emotions are inversely correlated,
fun of someone's personal life'; `Refused to help a with r = -.50. OCB and CWB are inversely correlated,
coworker'; `Started an argument with a coworker'. with r = -.11 (which is non significant at p < .05).
Two separate regression analyses were conducted with
OCB and CWB as dependent measures, respectively.
Results Each regression featured five predictor variables, which
included three environmental conditions, as well as trait
Preliminary analyses included evaluating the reported anger and affect. For the first regression, with OCB as the
frequency of occurrence of several behaviors (primarily criterion, the three environmental conditions (workload,
CWB). Several behaviors were reported as never constraints, and interpersonal conflicts) were entered as a
occurring by at least 90% of the respondents and were block of variables, followed by trait anger, then followed
dropped from the later analyses. This left a total of 33 by positive emotions. Results of this regression procedure
counterproductive work behaviors that were used in the are shown in Table 2. The three environmental
subsequent analyses. As stated previously, items from the conditions explained 11% of the variance of OCB, with
two OCB scales were combined, to create a thirteen-item the beta weights of both workload and interpersonal
scale dealing with organizational citizenship behaviors. conflict significant at p < .05. Trait anger did not add
Table 1 provides intercorrelations, reliabilities, means any unique variance. Then positive emotion added an
and standard deviations for the primary variables. additional 13% of explained variance.
Environmental conditions correlate with negative For the second regression, with CWB as the criterion,
emotions (ranging from r = .52 to r = .54). Environ- the three environmental conditions (workload, con-
mental conditions also correlate (inversely) with positive straints, and interpersonal conflicts) were entered as a
emotions (ranging from r = -.23 to r = -.30). Trait anger block of variables, followed by trait anger, then followed
correlates with negative emotions (r = .38), and by negative emotions. The three environmental conditions
explained 9% of the variance of CWB, with the beta This phenomenon may also be occurring with
weight for constraints significant, with t (197) = 2.00, p < perceptions of interpersonal conflict in the workplace.
.05. The three environmental conditions explained 9% of There is a positive relationship with negative emotions,
the variance of CWB, with the beta weights of work as well as with CWB. Perceptions of interpersonal
constraints significant, with p < .05. Trait anger then conflict are inversely related to positive emotions, but
added an additional 9% of explained variance, with then are positively related to OCB. Workers may view
negative emotion adding an additional 1% of variance. conditions under which there are higher levels of conflict
The beta weight for trait anger was significant with t (197) as creating (from their perspective) the opportunity to
= 4.09, p < .01. The beta weight for negative emotions overcome negative conditions, persevere, and go above
was also significant with t (197) = 2.04, p < .05. The and beyond the call of duty.
results from this regression analysis are shown in Table 3. Support for the basic premise that environmental
conditions (as perceived by the worker) lead to emotional
reactions, which can then influence behavior has
practical value to employers. An approach that manages
Discussion emotion can be helpful in encouraging positive voluntary
behaviors. This same approach can also be helpful in
There does seem to be reasonable support for some of the
inhibiting negative forms of behavior.
component parts of the overall model, as proposed by
Spector and Fox (in press). This model proposed that
environmental conditions (as perceived by the worker)
Limitations of the Study
relate to emotional reactions, which can then influence
behavior. Perceptions of the work environment relate to This study was conducted using cross-sectional, self-
positive emotion, which is positively correlated with the report measures of workers in various jobs. This strategy
occurrence of OCB. Conversely, negative perceptions of can be viewed as problematical for a multitude of
the work environment relate to negative emotion, which reasons. This research, however, was specifically
is positively correlated with the occurrence of CWB. designed to focus on the perceptions of workers
Personality characteristics (specifically, trait anger) (especially regarding their perceptions of the work
provide additional explanatory value in interpreting environment) and on their affective responses to those
these relationships (especially regarding CWB). perceptions. Additionally, gathering uncontaminated
In reviewing the pattern of zero order correlations as data regarding CWB is also problematic (primarily
well as the two regression analyses for OCB and CWB, dealing with ethical issues). Therefore, for this study
complex relationships between environmental conditions, self-report methodology seemed both prudent and
personality characteristics, emotion, and behaviors appear reasonable. However, creative research designs (possibly
to exist. For example, perceptions of workload may lead including the identification of known groups: people,
to negative emotions, but not directly to CWB. However, jobs, or companies that historically feature high levels of
workload is inversely related to positive emotions, but CWB or OCB) still need to be developed and used.
then is positively related to OCB. High workload can be Privacy concerns and guarantees of anonymity will
stressful and perceived in a negative manner, but may also always be of paramount importance. Additionally,
create (at least in the worker's perception) the opportunity inclusion of some type of measure to detect individuals
to persevere, and continue to work in spite of difficult responding in a socially desirable manner would also be
conditions. appropriate.
A second major limitation deals with the scope of the Organizational Psychology, Atlanta, 30 April±2 May.
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control, collectivism, personal initiative, and empathy criterion domain to include elements of contextual
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