Competent or Warm? Applying the Stereotype Content Model to Investigating the Relationship Between Job Performance and Workplace Aggression

Abstract

This dissertation aims to advance our understanding of workplace aggression by developing and testing two models based on the stereotype content model (SCM) and adopting the social network analysis approach. Specifically, two studies of the dissertation focus on (a) unfavorable social evaluations stemming from competence stereotypes, (b) stereotype-driven negative emotions as a mechanism to explain the relationship between competence and workplace aggression, and (c) the role of informal workplace relationships in predicting workplace aggression. Study one investigates the nonlinear relationship between job performance and exposure to workplace aggression and two distinct mediating mechanisms at high and low levels of job performance. High performers provoke jealousy, and low performers provoke contempt from coworkers, both of which are positively associated with exposure to workplace psychological aggression. The study tested these relations using data from a sample of 187 teachers from educational institutions in India and found support for the curvilinear relationship between performance and workplace psychological aggression and the mediating mechanisms of jealousy and contempt for high and low performers, respectively. Study two examines the role of workplace social ties (advice and friendship ties) in predicting workplace aggression. Results from data collected at 2-time points from 248 individuals in 21 workgroups largely supported the proposition that highly competent employees become victims of covert aggression and low competence employees become victims of overt aggression. Interestingly, the findings suggest that advice-giving and friendship ties mitigate the experience of aggression by reducing coworkers’ envy. However, advice-seeking aggravates overt aggression by increasing coworkers’ contempt.