Why and When Do Good Soldiers Behave Unethically? Introducing Conservation of Resources Theory to Explain the Curvilinear Effects of Organizational Citizenship Behavior

Fangfang Xu; Shiyong Xu; Jinqiang Zhu; Jinyi Zhou; Bainan Zhang; Chunmeng Yang

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.619657

Frontiers in Psychology (Jul 2021)

Why and When Do Good Soldiers Behave Unethically? Introducing Conservation of Resources Theory to Explain the Curvilinear Effects of Organizational Citizenship Behavior

Fangfang Xu,
Shiyong Xu,
Jinqiang Zhu,
Jinyi Zhou,
Bainan Zhang,
Chunmeng Yang

Affiliations

Fangfang Xu: School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
Shiyong Xu: Center for Human Resource Development and Assessment, School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
Jinqiang Zhu: School of Management, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
Jinyi Zhou: Department of Business Administration, Donlinks School of Economics and Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
Bainan Zhang: School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
Chunmeng Yang: School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.619657
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12

Abstract

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Previous research about organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and counterproductive work behavior (CWB) has produced contradictory results. Drawing from the conservation of resources (COR) theory, the present study tries to explain the contradictory findings by examining the curvilinear relationship between OCB and CWB. Using data collected at three time points from 426 employees and 110 supervisors in Chinese companies, data analysis shows that OCB has an inverted U-shaped relationship with CWB. The results also demonstrate that citizenship fatigue mediates the relationship between OCB and CWB, perceived organizational support (POS) moderates the relationship between OCB and citizenship fatigue. In addition, POS moderates the mediating effect of citizenship fatigue in the inverted U-shaped curvilinear relationship between OCB and CWB. This mediating effect is stronger under conditions of low POS than high POS. The findings present a complementary explanation of the conflicting relationships between OCB and CWB.

Published in Frontiers in Psychology

ISSN: 1664-1078 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology

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