Although extant research has shown that abusive supervision is a destructive and immoral form of leader behavior, theory provides conflicting perspectives on how supervisors respond to their own abusive behavior. We therefore draw upon and integrate moral cleansing theory and impression management and construction theory to explore whether and when supervisors engage in genuine reparations or impression management following episodes of abusive behavior. Results taken from a 3-week, experience sampling study of supervisors suggest support for the impression management path; following episodes of abusive behavior, supervisors higher on symbolized moral identity become more concerned with their image, and thus engage in increased ingratiation, self-promotion, and exemplification toward their subordinates. In contrast, we found no support for the genuine, moral cleansing path. This study thus extends knowledge regarding supervisors’ responses to their own abusive behavior, challenging the existing notion that such responses are genuine and focused on addressing the moral implications of the behavior.

中文翻译：

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做个好人还是假装好人？探究主管对其过去辱骂行为的两面性回应

尽管现有研究表明，辱骂性监督是一种破坏性和不道德的领导行为形式，但理论对监督者如何应对自己的辱骂行为提供了相互矛盾的观点。因此，我们借鉴并整合了道德清洗理论和印象管理和建构理论，以探讨主管是否以及何时在虐待行为发生后进行真正的赔偿或印象管理。从为期 3 周的主管经验抽样研究中得出的结果表明支持印象管理路径；在发生虐待行为之后，象征性道德认同度较高的上司会更加关注自己的形象，从而对下属更加讨好、自我推销和以身作则。相比之下，我们发现没有人支持真正的道德净化之路。因此，这项研究扩展了有关主管对其滥用行为的反应的知识，挑战了现有的观念，即此类反应是真实的，并专注于解决行为的道德影响。