Subjects: Psychology >> Management Psychology Subjects: Management Science >> Enterprise Management submitted time 2024-02-02
Abstract： Brand names serve as crucial touchpoints for establishing brand-consumer relationships and are integral components of brand assets. Linguistic studies on branding have established that the phonetic features of brand names can influence consumers’ cognition, emotions, and behavior. However, research on the impact and mechanisms of phonetic features on consumers’ ethical responses is limited. Based on the mind perception theory, this study explores the asymmetric paths through which the use of repeated two-syllable brand names influences consumers’ moral reactions in two different situations. Based on seven experiments, we determined that in the context of brands as moral agents, compared to non-repeated two-syllable brand names, repeated ones can alleviate consumers’ negative moral reactions (anger, disgust, blame, punishment intention) toward the brand by reducing the think dimension of brand mind perception (rather than the feel dimension). However, in the context of brands as moral patients, repeated two-syllable brand names enhance consumers’ positive moral reactions (sympathy, compassion, regret, and purchase intention) toward the brand by increasing the feel dimension of brand mind perception (rather than the think dimension).
Experiment 1a was designed to derive experimental evidence on the relationship between repeated two-syllable brand name and consumers’ negative moral reactions in the context of moral agent. Experiment 1a (N=200) was a single factor (repeated two-syllable: yes vs. no) between-subjects design in which participants were randomly assigned to different groups to read a news report regarding an incident of vulgar advertising with repeated or non-repeated two-syllable brand names. Participants then reported their level of anger, disgust, and blame toward the brand. Experiment 1b (N=200), which had a similar between-subjects design as Experiment 1a, verified the relationship between repeated two-syllable brand name and consumers’ positive moral reactions in the context of moral patient. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups to read a news report regarding an incident of corporate data breach. They then reported their level of sympathy, compassion, and pity for the brand. Experiment 2a (N=196) was designed to confirm the mediating role of the think dimension of the brand in the relationship between repeated two-syllable brand name and consumers’ negative moral reactions in the context of moral agent. The experimental design was the same as that of Experiment 1a. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups to read a news report regarding an incident of drug companies raising drug prices despite patients. Participants then reported their level of anger, blame, feel dimension, think dimension, brand warmth, and brand competence toward the brand. Experiment 2b (N=196) verified the mediating role in the relationship between repeated two-syllable brand name and consumers’ positive moral reactions in the context of moral patient. The experimental design and procedure were identical to that in Experiment 1b. After reading a news report regarding the incident of corporate data breach, participants reported their level of sympathy, support, feel dimension, think dimension, brand warmth, and brand competence toward the brand. Experiment 3a sought to confirm the influence of repeated two-syllable brand name on downstream behavioral intention in the context of moral agent. Experiment 3a (N=296) was a single factor (repeated two-syllable: yes vs. no vs. “little”) between-subjects design; participants were randomly assigned to three groups to read the same news report as in Experiment 2a. They then reported their level of anger, disgust, blame, feel dimension, think dimension, and punishment intention toward the brand. Experiment 3b (N=292) verified the influence of repeated two-syllable brand name on downstream behavioral intention in the context of moral patient and was a similar between-subjects design to Experiment 3a. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups and asked to read a news report on an incident of one company being coerced by another. They then reported their level of sympathy, compassion, regret, feeling, thinking, and purchase intention for the brand. Experiment 4 (N=363) used a 2 (repeated two-syllable: yes vs. no) ´ 2 (moral agent vs. moral patient) between-subjects design to more rigorously demonstrate the effect of repeated two-syllable names in the same moral situation. Participants were randomly assigned to four groups and asked to read a news report on an incident of commercial bullying. In the moral agent group, the brand was a game production company that bullies other firms, and in the moral patient group, the brand was a game operation company that is bullied by other firms. The participants reported their level of unethical judgment on the incident and the level of feel and think dimensions toward the brand.
A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in Experiments 1a and 1b suggested that repeated two-syllable brand name could decrease consumers’ negative moral reactions toward the brand when it was a moral agent, whereas such brand name could increase consumers’ positive moral reactions when the brand was a moral patient. The ANOVA results of Experiment 2a and an examination of parallel mediation revealed that the think dimension of brand mind perception mediated the influence of repeated two-syllable brand name on consumers’ negative moral reactions. Based on the ANOVA and parallel medication analysis, the results of Experiment 2b revealed that feel dimension of brand mind perception mediated the influence of repeated two-syllable brand name on consumers’ positive moral reactions. At the same time, Experiment 2a ruled out alternative explanations for the stereotype content model. On the other hand, Experiment 2b established that after controlling for the indirect effect of the stereotype content model, a significant mediating effect of the mind perception theory remained. Meanwhile, the results of the serial mediation mechanism analysis in Experiments 3a and 3b revealed that in the moral agent context, repeated two-syllable brand names ultimately influence consumers’ intentions to punish by influencing the think dimension and negative moral reactions. However, in the moral patient context, repeated two-syllable brand names ultimately influence consumers’ purchase intention by influencing the feel dimension and positive moral reactions. In addition, the ANOVA and multi-category mediation mechanism analyses of Experiments 3a and 3b documented that repeated two-syllable brand name and “little” could produce similar effects in the moral agent and moral patient context. Finally, the results of the two-way ANOVA for Experiment 4 indicated significant interactions between repeated two-syllable names and moral roles in the immoral judgment of the incident and the feel and think dimensions of the brand. In the moral agent condition, participants in the repeated two-syllable group made fewer unethical judgments about the incident and perceived a lower level of the think dimension of the brand than participants in the non-repeated two-syllable group, but no significant difference was observed in the perceived level of feel dimension. In the moral patient condition, participants in the repeated two-syllable group made more unethical judgments about the incident and perceived a higher level of the feel dimension of the brand than those in the non-repeated two-syllable group, but no significant difference was observed in the perceived level of the think dimension.
This study provides an innovative theoretical exploration of the causal relationship between sound symbolism and consumers’ reactions to business ethical crisis. Meanwhile, we reveal the mechanism by which the two dimensions (think and feel) of brand mind perception exist as asymmetric mediators. In addition, we employ the theory of mind perception to discover how people anthropomorphize non-human things, which deepens the exploration of the mechanisms of anthropomorphism-generating processes in the brand anthropomorphism literature. In a practical sense, our research not only provides reference for the design of brand names and nicknames but also directly assists in crafting public relations content for handling ethical crises and creating content for public service announcements.
Subjects: Psychology >> Management Psychology submitted time 2023-12-22
Abstract： Negative family events and experiences have been major social problems in recent years due to the intersection and influence of technical, economic, and epidemic shocks. Negative family events influence leaders’ family domain and also have a cross-domain effect on leadership behaviors at work. However, there are two contradictory views on the relationship between negative family events and effective leadership behaviors. Some scholars claim a negative effect because of the depletion of leaders’ self-control resources, called the “trapped-by-family effect.” Others propose a positive effect owing to cross-domain compensation, called the “compensation effect.”
The inconsistency in existing literature prompts us to reconcile it using the theory of cross-domain leader identity. We argue that the influence of daily negative family events on leader identity and effective leadership behaviors depends on the leaders’ extraversion levels. Specifically, when leaders have higher levels of extraversion, the compensation effect will come into play; that is, daily negative family events will be positively associated with daily effective leadership behaviors by promoting daily leader identity. In contrast, when leaders have lower levels of extraversion, the trapped-by-family effect will play a role; that is, daily negative family events will be negatively associated with daily effective leadership behaviors by reducing daily leader identity.
To capture within-person variance and test our model, we conducted two experience sampling studies of middle managers across 10 consecutive workdays. In Study 1, participants were middle managers from three merchant banks in three cities. Before initiating the daily survey, participants were asked to complete a basic survey containing demographic questions and an extraversion personality inventory. After matching procedures, 461 observations from 67 managers were included in our final sample. Data analysis supported our hypotheses for both initial structure and transformational leadership that are typical effective leadership behaviors in the literature. In Study 2, we collected data from participants from different regions and industries, and the final sample included 307 observations from 42 managers. The data analysis results showed that negative family events did have both a trapped-by-family effect on leader identity and effective leadership behavior through ego-depletion and a compensation effect on leader identity and effective leadership behavior through compensation.
The theoretical contributions of this paper are fourfold. First, we integrate the inconsistent ideas of the relationship between negative family events and effective leadership behavior using the theory of cross-domain leader identity. We find that the levels of leaders’ extraversion play a vital role in deciding whether negative family events will have a trapped-by-family effect or a compensation effect on effective leadership behavior via leader identity. Second, unlike existing empirical studies, our findings suggest that negative family events will not always lead to negative leadership behaviors. At the within-person level, leaders with high levels of extraversion will exhibit more effective leadership behaviors at work after experiencing negative family events. Third, we extend the current research to further explore the effect of personality on leadership behaviors. Prior studies have suggested that extraversion assists leaders in handling the challenges of work, while we find that extraversion will also promote leaders to actively respond to negative family events by engaging in effective leadership behaviors. Fourth, we also contribute to leader identity studies by shifting its antecedents from work domain to family domain and by exploring the interactive effect of personal and situational factors on leader identity. The present study also provides practical guidance for organizations and leaders to cope with the challenge of negative family events and promote its potential positive effects.
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2023-07-11
Abstract： [Objective] The record low fertility rate in recent years is a sign that China’s population problem is becoming more and more serious. The purpose of this research is to explore the factors that may influence people’s fertility intentions. [Methods] The current research demonstrates the causal relationship between people’s perceived fairness and fertility intention and the underlying psychological mechanisms with a large sample from the Chinese General Social Survey and several experimental studies. [Results] The current research finds that increased perceived fairness can reduce upward social comparison, lower perceived costs of childbearing, and consequently increase people’s fertility intention. Furthermore, the current research explores the moderating effect of social comparison direction (upward social comparison vs. downward social comparison) on the aforementioned effect. [Conclusions] By combining large sample survey data and experimental data, this paper investigates the impact of perceived social fairness on fertility intentions and proposes corresponding policy suggestions based on specific psychological mechanisms. This research thus has important theoretical value and practical implications for enhancing individuals’ fertility intentions and effectively implementing fertility policies.
Peer Review Status:
Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2023-03-27 Cooperative journals: 《心理学报》
Abstract： Virtual humans are?digital characters created in computer graphics software who take a first-person view of the world and have a social media presence. But compared with real humans, how different will people attribute moral responsibility to virtual humans when they do something morally wrong? Based on Mental Perception Theory, this paper explored the influence and mechanism of cultural differences between China and the West on moral responsibility judgment of virtual humans. Specifically, whether virtual humans are powered by real humans or artificial intelligence(AI), people in Chinese (vs. Western) Culture attributed more moral responsibility to virtual humans but equal moral responsibility to real humans when they conduct immoral behaviors. Perceived mental capacities, especially, perceived experience mediated the interaction effect. Furthermore, compared with people in western culture, people in Chinese culture see immoral behaviors of virtual humans, they are more likely to punish virtual humans, like unfollowing their social accounts. Five experiments provided empirical support for these predictions. Study 1a and 1b used 2 (human blogger vs. virtual blogger) � 2 (Chinese culture vs. Western culture) between-subjects designs. 200 Chinese and 200 American Caucasian participants were recruited in Study 1a. They first read the profile of a virtual/human blogger, Rico, on Weibo (Chinese)/Twitter (American). Next, participants were told that Rico exposed the privacy behavior of a netizen, which made him suffer from?cyber violence. After that, participants rated moral responsibility of Rico with two items. Consistent with our prediction, there is a significant interaction effect between Chinese/Western culture and virtual/human blogger on moral responsibility judgment. Specifically, Chinese (vs. Western) people attributed more moral responsibility to the virtual blogger, but there is no significant difference in moral responsible judgment toward the human blogger. In Study 1b, we recruited 200 Chinese and 199 British Caucasian participants online. We used a similar study design and manipulations to that used in Study 1a. Study 1b replicated the results of Study 1 by using a new scenario (i.e., tax evasion) and new methods of measuring moral responsibility. Study 1c used a 3 (human blogger vs. virtual blogger powered by AI vs. virtual blogger powered by real humans) � 2 (Chinese culture vs. Western culture) between-subjects design. 300 Chinese and 300 British Caucasian participants were recruited online. The results showed that Chinese (vs. British) people attribute higher human-like moral responsibilities to virtual human powered by real humans as well as artificial intelligence. Study 2 used the same study design as used in Study 1a and 1b. 200 Chinese and 199 American Caucasian participants were recruited online. They read the similar profile of the virtual/human blogger Rico, and her unmoral behavior (i.e., tax evasion). Then, participants rated moral responsibility and mental capacities of Rico. Results revealed the mediating role of perceived mental capacities (experience, not agency) on the cultural difference of perceived moral responsibility and ruled out two possible alternative explanations. Study 3 used a 2 (Chinese culture vs. Western culture) between-subjects design. 100 Chinese participants and 101 American Caucasian participants were recruited online. This study utilized another scenario (i.e., plagiarism) and replicated the results in previous studies. Furthermore, we showed the downstream effect that Chinese (vs. American) people believe the virtual human should be punished more (i.e., fining, suspending the account, and unfollowing). In summary, based on Mental Perception Theory, this paper provides evidence for the cultural differences between China and the west on moral responsibility judgment of virtual humans. Perceived mental capacities (experience, not agency) mediated this interaction effect. In addition, we showed the downstream results of moral punishments and contributed to the literature on cultural differences and the theory about moral judgment on non-human entities.
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2023-02-12
Abstract：
Virtual humans are digital characters created in computer graphics software that take a first-person view of the world and have a social media presence. Compared with real humans, however, are people likely to attribute moral responsibility differently to virtual humans whenthey do something morally wrong? This important empirical question remains unanswered. Therefore, we addressed this query using Mental Perception Theory. We did so through exploringthe influence and mechanism of cultural differences between China and the West on individuals’ perceptions of moral responsibility judgment of virtual humans versus real humans. Findings revealed that, when virtual humans engaged in immoral behaviors—irrespective of whether real humans or artificial intelligence (AI) controlled them—people in China (vs. the West) attributedmore moral responsibility to virtual humans but equal moral responsibility to real humans. Perceived mental capacities, especially perceived experience, mediated the interaction effect of culture. Furthermore, compared to Westerners, Chinese people were more likely to punish virtual (vs. real) humans, such as by no longer following their social accounts. Five experiments revealed the foregoing findings. Study 1a and 1b used a 2 (human blogger vs. virtual blogger) × 2 (Chinese culture vs. Western culture) between-subjects design. Twohundred Chinese and 200 U.S. Caucasian participants were recruited in Study 1a. They first readthe profile of a virtual/human blogger, Rico, on Weibo (i.e., Chinese)/Twitter (i.e., U.S.). Next, they were told that Rico had exposed the private behavior of a netizen, which made that individual suffer from cyber violence. After that, participants rated the moral responsibility of Rico with twoitems. Consistent with our prediction, there was a significant interaction effect between the Chinese/Western culture and the virtual/human blogger on moral responsibility judgment. Specifically, Chinese (vs. Western) people attributed more moral responsibility to the virtual blogger, but there was no significant difference in moral responsibility judgment toward the human blogger. In Study 1b, we recruited 200 Chinese and 199 British Caucasian participants online. We utilized a similar study design and manipulations to those employed in Study 1a. Study1b replicated the results of Study 1 with a new scenario (i.e., tax evasion) and newmethods of measuring moral responsibility judgment. Study 1c used a 3 (human blogger vs. virtual blogger powered by AI vs. virtual blogger powered by real humans) × 2 (Chinese culture vs. Western culture) between-subjects design. Three hundred Chinese and 300 British Caucasian participants were recruited online. The results showed that Chinese (vs. British) people attributed greater human-like moral responsibility toa virtual human controlled by real humans as well as by artificial intelligence. Study 2 used the same study design as employed in 1b. Two hundred Chinese and 199American Caucasian participants were recruited online. They read the same profile of the virtual/human blogger Rico and his immoral behavior (i.e., tax evasion). Then, participants rated moral responsibility judgment and mental capacities of Rico. Results revealed the mediating role of perceived mental capacities (i.e., experience, not agency) on the cultural difference of perceivedmoral responsibility judgment and ruled out two possible alternative explanations. Study 3 used a 2 (Chinese culture vs. Western culture) between-subjects design. One hundredChinese participants and 101 American Caucasian participants were recruited online. This studyutilized another scenario (i.e., plagiarism) and replicated the results of the four previous studies. Furthermore, we showed the downstream effect that Chinese (vs. U.S.) people believed that the virtual human should be punished more (i.e., fining, suspending the account, and no longer following the account). In summary, based on Mental Perception Theory, this paper provided evidence for the cultural differences between Chinese people and Westerners on moral responsibility judgment of virtual humans. Perceived mental capacities (i.e., experience, not agency) mediated this interactioneffect. In addition, we revealed the downstream results of moral punishment and contributed toliterature on cultural differences and the theory about moral judgment on non-human entities.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Management Psychology submitted time 2022-12-09
Abstract：
Networking behavior refers to employees’ behaviors that build, maintain, and use relationships to achieve work-related goals. Different from traditional social network research that focuses primarily on the decisive influence of network structure, research on networking behavior emphasizes the role of individual agency and indicates that employees can realize their career success by proactively engaging in networking behavior. Based on an overview of the previous research, the concept of employee networking behavior and its characteristics is firstly summarized. Second, perspectives including resource, affect, network, and exchange are adopted to summarize the effects and underlying mechanisms of employee networking behavior. Third, a number of potential directions for future research are discussed, including deepening and integrating different theoretical perspectives, examining online networking behavior under the context of enterprise social media platforms, updating the measurement of networking behavior and extending research methods. In so doing, we intend to advance the knowledge of both the nature and influence of networking behavior.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Management Psychology submitted time 2022-04-17
Abstract：
The balance of work and family has received widespread attention from managers and researchers in recent years. Previous research claims that job demand, as a kind of pressure felt by employees, reduces employees’ work motivation, increases employee fatigue and anxiety, and hinders work-family enrichment. However, different job demands (e.g., challenge demand and hindrance demand) have different effects on employees. Challenge demand, which gives individuals the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and promote personal growth, influences work-family enrichment in a complex way. However, few researches pay sufficient attention to the mechanism of the double-edged effect in the relationship between challenge demand and work-family enrichment. In addition, although scholarly research on job demand and work-family enrichment has increasingly focused on within-person fluctuations in recent years, how to examine the “dynamic” effects of challenge demand on work-family enrichment has received little attention. Therefore, based on conservation of resource theory and uncertainty management theory and from static and dynamic perspectives, we comprehensively examined the effects of challenge demand on work-family enrichment by clarifying the different attributes of challenge demand (daily level model, average level model, daily shift model, and variability model).
We tested our hypothesis by conducting a diary study of 105 participations over 10 working days. Data were collected via a job demand scale, work absorption scale, relaxation scale, and work-family enrichment scale. First, we recorded control variables (gender, marital status, and spouse’s work status) during the weekends. Second, researchers collected daily data (challenge demand, hindrance demand, work absorption, relaxation, and work-family enrichment) from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each workday. Ultimately, 645 valid data points at the within-person level were available for 81 participants. Using SPSS 24.0, Mplus 7.0, and R software, we conducted a multilevel path analysis to examine the theoretical model.
Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the validity of the key variables (challenge demand, work absorption, relaxation, and work-family enrichment), and the results confirmed that the present study had good discriminant validity. The results of multilevel path analysis showed that the following. (1) In the static model, challenge demand had double-edged sword effects on work-family enrichment at the within-person level (daily level model); in the average level model (between-person level), the average level of challenge demand positively predicted chronic work absorption and negatively predicted chronic relaxation, and the mediating effect of chronic relaxation was stronger than that of chronic work absorption. (2) In the dynamic model, directionality of daily shifts in challenge demand negatively affected daily work absorption and daily relaxation in the daily shift model (within-person level). Only the mediating role of daily relaxation was significant; in the variability model (between-person level), the variability level of challenge demand had a negative impact on chronic work absorption and chronic relaxation, and only the mediating role of chronic relaxation was significant.
The study makes critical contributions both theoretically and practically. (1) The static model indicated that, through the gained and deleted paths, the double-edged sword effect of the relationship between daily challenge demand, average level of change demand, and work-family enrichment was significant. (2) Through the dynamic model, this study explored the negative effect of challenge demand fluctuations on work-family enrichment in two forms, namely, daily shift directionality and the variability of challenge demand. Practically, this study suggests that managers should fully recognize the double-edged sword effect of challenge demand.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2021-11-02
Abstract： Nowadays, using male spokesperson to endorse female-gender-imaged product has become an important advertising strategy and has penetrated into many female-gender-imaged products, especially thanks to celebrity influence. Does it really work? While previous research only combined with a certain degree of theory to explain the cross-gender endorsement phenomenon, this paper aims to explore the relationship between the gender of female-gender-imaged product spokesperson and female consumer's product evaluation through a quantitative approach. Specifically, we proposed that when male spokesperson endorses female-gender-imaged product, female consumers would significantly downgrade their evaluation of the products compared to female spokesperson, which is mediated by gender-identity threat. In addition, when the participants are manipulated to increase gender affirmation, the main effect would be strengthened. Study1 used a single factor (gender of female-gender-imaged product spokesperson: male vs. female) between-subjects design. 145 female college students were invited to this study. Participants were asked to imagine a billboard advertising a lipstick and endorsed by male star or female star, and then evaluated this lipstick by a scale. We examined the main effect through this scenario that using male spokesperson to endorse female-gender-imaged product would decrease female consumers’ product evaluation. Study 2A used a similar between-subjects design. 119 female participants were recruited to imagine a billboard of maternity hospital endorsed by male star or female star, and then evaluated this maternity hospital as well as sense of gender-identity threat by scales. Study 2B invited 136 female college students to replicate the results of Study 2A, ruling out the alternative explanation of shyness and shame. Participants were asked to look at a lingerie advertisement poster that used endorsement by a real celebrity. We repeated the results of Study 1 and confirmed the mediating effect of gender-identity threat with bootstrap test to clarify the internal influence mechanism. Study 3 used a 2 (gender of female-gender-imaged product spokesperson: male vs. female) × 2 (gender affirmation: strengthen vs. control) between-subjects design. 250 female Mturk workers participated in this study. In the gender affirmation condition, participants were asked to write about important qualities and values of women. In the control condition, participants were asked to list 20 everyday items that came to mind. Next, participants were told that they were browsing an online shopping platform and intended to buy lingerie. They would see the lingerie picture of a famous brand endorsed by a popular female star (vs. a popular male star) and then fill out the same product evaluation scale as above. We examined the interaction between gender of female-gender-imaged product spokesperson and gender affirmation. Specifically, when the female-gender-imaged product uses male endorsement, the product evaluation of the gender affirmation condition is lower than that of the control condition. Apart from the above, results from these studies were summarized and analyzed in general discussion, and showed that both exclusivity and privacy of female-gender-imaged product have significant interaction effects on the relationship between spokesperson gender and product evaluation. In summary, this paper combines the theory of self-concept and identity consciousness to provide convergent evidences for a mechanism between cross-gender endorsement and female consumer's product evaluation mediated by gender-identity threat, and the moderating effect of gender affirmation, expanding the downstream results of product gender attribute research and contributing to the practice of advertising field. "
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2020-04-17
Abstract： Honest behavior is a fundamental aspect of economic and social life. Although many countries have been committed to promoting civil honesty, there are still many dishonest behaviors that act as barriers to the development of society, such as broken promises, unenforced contracts and corrupt governments. In recent years, much research has been performed on the factors influencing people’s honest behaviors, such as social norms and emotions; however, these factors do not exist every time. The purpose of the current research was to explore how weather and air pollution influence honest behavior. We hypothesized that sunny weather would increase people’s honest behavior. In contrast, we hypothesized that air pollution would promote dishonest behavior. Two studies were conducted to test the hypotheses. In Study 1, we used second-hand experimental data published online. Cohn, Marécha, Tannenbaum and Zünd conducted field experiments to test the relationship between civil honesty and money worldwide, and the research was published in Science in 2019. They measured whether recipients contacted owners to return wallets. Weather and air pollution data, however, were not analyzed in their research. Considering the availability and different standards of many countries’ air pollution data, we used Chinese and American experimental data (N=1400) and corresponding weather and air quality indexes to test the hypotheses. In Study 2, we used a quasi experiment to test the influence of weather and air pollution on honest behavior. We randomly left campus cards and money in classrooms before class and recorded the weather and air pollution conditions at three Chinese universities (N=407). In addition, we used whether recipients took the campus card or money as an indicator of honest behavior. Moreover, different kinds of classes were included in this study since previous research indicated that different classes might affect students’ honest behavior. The results of Study 1 indicated that participants were more likely to contact the owner to return the wallet during sunny weather than during cloudy weather. In addition, air pollution also affected the participants’ honest behavior. The results indicated that the more serious the air pollution was, the less likely it was that people would voluntarily return the wallets. Study 2 further replicated this result and suggested that participants were more likely to take the campus card or money under cloudy weather and air pollution conditions. There was no significant difference among the classes in terms of honest behavior in this study. In conclusion, sunny weather promotes honest behavior, but air pollution reduces honest behavior.
Subjects: Psychology >> Management Psychology submitted time 2019-10-28
Abstract： "
Subjects: Psychology >> Management Psychology submitted time 2019-10-11
Abstract： Previous studies have mainly considered voice as a behavior with constructive intention for the organization. However, such studies have failed to recognize that voice can be an important means for individuals to achieve their own instrumental goals. Among the few studies that have examined the instrumentality of voice behavior, little attention has been paid to distinguishing between the types of voice behavior motivated by instrumental goals, leading to an incomplete understanding of the instrumental side of the behavior. Hence, this study attempts to broaden our understanding of different voice behaviors as a means of satisfying different instrumental goals in pressure situations. Specifically, based on conservation of resources theory, we suggest that high work pressure indicates threats, increasing individuals’ motivation to conserve resources and thus leading to more defensive voice. In contrast, when work pressure is low, the environment is likely to be perceived as benign, motivating the expression of constructive voice. Importantly, we highlight the role of leader openness as an important boundary condition. Leader openness signals that voice behavior is encouraged and valued, leading to positive expectations for employees to maintain or acquire resources through such behavior, which further motivates that behavior. In contrast, when leaders turn a blind eye to their employees’ voice, employees perceive that their suggestion behavior cannot help them achieve their instrumental goals, and they thus stay silent about work-related issues. Taken together, we suggest that work pressure leads to more defensive voice and less constructive voice, especially when leader openness is high. To test our conceptual model, we conducted a one-month time-lagged study among 386 employees from 50 teams at a construction site. We found that although employees’ perceptions of work stress significantly decreased constructive voice, they also increased defensive voice. Ego depletion mediated the effects of work stress on these two types of voice behavior. Moreover, the results showed that group-level leader openness significantly reinforced the negative relationship between work stress and constructive voice, as well as the negative indirect effect of work pressure on constructive voice through ego depletion. However, the moderating effect of leader openness was not observed when testing the direct and indirect effects of work pressure on defensive voice. This study makes three main contributions to the literature. First, responding to researchers’ recommendations in recent years, the study investigated the mechanisms of different types of voice behaviors. Second, the study drew on conservation of resources theory to explain the effects of work stress on voice behavior, enhancing our understanding of why people engage in certain types of voice behavior in response to work stress. Finally, the study highlights leader openness as an important boundary condition, clarifying when work stress is more likely or less likely to lead to different voice behaviors.
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