Reactions to Territorial Infringement

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Brown, Graham; Robinson, Sandra L.
• 署名单位: Singapore Management University; University of British Columbia; University of British Columbia
• 刊物名称: ORGANIZATION SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1047-7039
• DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1090.0507
• 发表日期: 2011
• 页码: 210-224
• 关键词: territoriality; psychological ownership; infringement; cognitive appraisal theory; emotions

摘要

Territoriality represents a new area of research in organizations. In this study, we empirically examined how territorial 1 infringement leads to anger and reactionary defenses. Using a cognitive appraisal theory of anger, we posited that a perceived infringement evokes anger that, in turn, fuels reactionary defenses. We tested our hypotheses by using data collected in an open-ended survey of 125 employees. They provided us with critical incidents of perceived infringement at work, which we then coded into quantitative measures. We found that employees are territorial over a wide variety of things at work, and they react in many ways when they perceive infringement of these territories. We discuss these findings and suggest several directions for future research in this emerging area.