Explaining Incivility in the Workplace: The Effects of Personality and Culture

Negotiation and Conflict Management Research, 2009, Vol. 2, No. 2, Pgs. 164-184

21 Pages Posted: 6 Jun 2012

See all articles by Wu Liu

Wu Liu

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Shu-Cheng Chi

National Taiwan University - Department of Business Administration

Ray Friedman

Vanderbilt University - Organizational Behavior

Ming-Hong Tsai

National Taiwan University - Department of Business Administration

Date Written: June 6, 2012

Abstract

This study examines individual and cultural antecedents of incivility in the workplace, using a sample of MBAs and EMBAs from Taiwan and the United States. We predicted that individual achievement orientation would enhance incivility, based on Dollard’s frustration aggression hypothesis, and that those who were higher in direct conflict self-efficacy (i.e., beliefs in one’s skills in managing direct conflict) would be higher in incivility. These predictions were supported. We also predicted, and found, that collectivism orientation constrains these main effects, so that for those high in collectivism, the impact of achievement orientation and direct conflict self-efficacy is weak or nonexistent. Implications for conflict management are discussed.

Keywords: incivility, aggression, achievement orientation

Suggested Citation

Liu, Wu and Chi, Shu-Cheng and Friedman, Raymond A. and Tsai, Ming-Hong, Explaining Incivility in the Workplace: The Effects of Personality and Culture (June 6, 2012). Negotiation and Conflict Management Research, 2009, Vol. 2, No. 2, Pgs. 164-184, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2078998

Wu Liu (Contact Author)

Hong Kong Polytechnic University ( email )

Hung Hom Kowloon
Hong Kong

Shu-Cheng Chi

National Taiwan University - Department of Business Administration ( email )

No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd.
Taipei
Taiwan
+886 2 236 3 0231 Ext. 2942 (Phone)
+886 2 236 8 9305 (Fax)

Raymond A. Friedman

Vanderbilt University - Organizational Behavior ( email )

401 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203
United States
615-322-3992 (Phone)
615-343-7177 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://mba.vanderbilt.edu/faculty/rfriedman.cfm

Ming-Hong Tsai

National Taiwan University - Department of Business Administration ( email )

Taipei
Taiwan

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