Why narcissistic individuals engage in unethical pro-organizational behavior. Testing a moderated mediation model
Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration
ISSN: 1757-4323
Article publication date: 30 April 2021
Issue publication date: 15 July 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the current research is to study the relationship between narcissism and unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB), and also examine whether status striving mediates the relationship between narcissism and UPB among individuals with high organizational identification.
Design/methodology/approach
Data that was used to test the research model were collected from five companies in the trading sector in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The final sample included 200 responses, among all participants 29.5% were in a leadership position.
Findings
The current research found that narcissism leads individuals to exhibit a willingness to engage in UPB. Furthermore, status striving mediates the relationship between narcissism and UPB among individuals with high organizational identification.
Research limitations/implications
Research did not use actual reported UPB but measured employees' willingness to engage in UPB.
Practical implications
Organizations should develop special ethics guidance to change the employee's perceptions of UPB from the act of helping or protecting the organization to undesirable behavior in the organization. Moreover, the organization may develop an ethical counseling program, by which individuals may perceive that ethical behavior is valuable for the organization.
Originality/value
Current study examines the relationship between narcissism and UPB. Moreover, it provides empirical support for the notion that the relationship between narcissism and UPB is mediated by status striving among individuals with high organizational identification.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
We have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Citation
Toirova, M. and Baek, Y. (2021), "Why narcissistic individuals engage in unethical pro-organizational behavior. Testing a moderated mediation model", Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 320-334. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJBA-11-2020-0396
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited