THE MIXED BLESSING OF LEADER SENSE OF HUMOR: EXAMINING COSTS AND BENEFITS

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Yam, Kai Chi; Christian, Michael S.; Wei, Wu; Liao, Zhenyu; Nai, Jared
• 署名单位: National University of Singapore; University of North Carolina; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; University of North Carolina School of Medicine; Wuhan University; Washington University (WUSTL); Singapore Management University
• 刊物名称: ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0001-4273
• DOI: 10.5465/amj.2015.1088
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 348-369
• 关键词: WORKPLACE DEVIANCE; MEMBER EXCHANGE; psychological conditions; CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP; ABUSIVE SUPERVISION; POSITIVE HUMOR; JOB-ATTITUDES; SEXIST HUMOR; BEHAVIOR; engagement

摘要

Workplace humor is ubiquitous, yet scholars know little about how it affects employees' behaviors in organizations. We draw on an emerging psychological theory of humor-benign violation theory-to suggest that a leader's sense of humor often conveys counter-normative social information in organizations. We integrate this theory with social information processing theory to develop hypotheses about the effects of a leader's sense of humor on follower behavior. We suggest that although a leader's sense of humor is positively associated with leader-member exchange and ultimately work engagement, it can also signal to followers the acceptability of norm violation at work. These perceptions in turn are positively associated with followers' deviance. Furthermore, we propose that these indirect effects are moderated by leader aggressive humor. Data from two three-wave field studies in China and the United States provide support for our hypotheses. Taken together, our results suggest that a leader's sense of humor can be a mixed blessing and elicit unforeseen negative behaviors from their followers.