Celebration of Scholars
Role Overload and Counterproductive Work Behavior: On the Role of Narcissism and Emotional Intelligence
Name:
Colleen O'Brien
Department: Social Science
Type of research: Independent research
Funding: None
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of manipulative behavior of narcissistic personalities on counterproductive work behavior (CBW). Furthermore, the catalyst effect of role overload (RO) and attenuating effect of positive emotions, a dimension of emotional intelligence (EI), were explored from the premise that manipulation would lead to higher engagement in CBW when RO is high and positive emotions are low. We employed two samples. In study 1, we used 72 students enrolled in a large comprehensive college in the Midwest. In study 2, we had 415 working adults from the manufacturing industry, sector of education and professional services. In study 1, results showed that under condition of high RO, manipulation had a steep and strong positive relationship with CWB when narcissistic individuals exhibited high positive emotions. In study 2, we obtained a strong U-shape curvilinear relationship between manipulative behavior and CWB when RO was low and positive emotions were high. However, when RO was high, we obtained an inverted U-shape relationship when positive emotions were high. This research shows that RO plays an important role in determining whether manipulative behavior results in CWB among narcissistic individuals who exhibit the ability to control one’s emotions and to experience positive emotions. Such individuals strategically determine when to engage in CWB or withdraw from CWB based on extent of RO.Submit date: March 6, 2019, 8:50 a.m.