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Tit for tat? Abusive supervision and counterproductive work behaviors: The moderating effects of locus of control and perceived mobility

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Abstract

Previous research has identified both individual differences and perceived situational variables such as self-esteem and organizational justice as the antecedents of counterproductive work behaviors (CWB). This article focuses on employees’ perceived interpersonal interaction. More specifically, the relation between abusive supervision and subordinates’ counterproductive work behaviors toward the organization is examined. Using a sample of 198 dyads employees and their immediate supervisor (N = 396) from a multinational company in China, this research finds that abusive supervision results in increased levels of sabotage, withdrawal, production deviance, and theft. This research also examines the moderating effects of locus of control and perceived mobility on the relationships between abusive supervision and subordinates’ CWB toward the organization. The results suggest that locus of control moderates the relationship between abusive supervision and sabotage, production deviance and theft, but not abusive supervision and withdrawal; perceived mobility moderates the relationship between abusive supervision and withdrawal and theft, but not abusive supervision and sabotage and production deviance. Practical implications for human resource management are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai University, 99, Shang Da Road, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Feng Wei

  2. Tongji University, 1239, Siping Road, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Steven Si

  3. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, PA, 17815, USA

    Steven Si

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  1. Feng Wei
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  2. Steven Si
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Correspondence to Steven Si.

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This research has been supported jointly by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (70902038) and Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation of Ministry of Education of China (09YJC630150). The authors are alphabetically ordered by their E-mail address.

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Wei, F., Si, S. Tit for tat? Abusive supervision and counterproductive work behaviors: The moderating effects of locus of control and perceived mobility. Asia Pac J Manag 30, 281–296 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-011-9251-y

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