Form, Structure, Situation: Integrating Three Theoretical Perspectives to Elucidate the Relation Between Extraversion and Extarole Performance

Rachel W. Smith, Nathan T. Carter

Research output: Contribution to conferencePresentation

Abstract

Presentation given at European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology Conference.

Content: Purpose Extraversion involves the degree to which persons are sociable and energetic; tendencies that would appear to have theoretical overlap with extrarole behaviors such as organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and counterproductive work behavior (CWB). However, past research has found weak and/or inconsistent relationships between these variables. Here we integrate theoretical perspectives on: (a) the functional form of the relation between personality and behavior (curvilinear relations); (b) the structure of personality (the facet-aspect-trait structure); and (c) moderation by trait-relevant features (i.e., trait activation theory). Design/Methodology Hypotheses were tested in a sample of 1,010 working adults utilizing multilevel analyses. Our moderator was social orientation importance for the job. Results Findings suggest that facets of extraversion explain 38% of variance in OCB (17% of is attributed to curvilinearity), and 26% of variance in CWB, in contrast to weak relations found at the general trait level. Limitations Results were highly consistent with trait activation theory at the general trait level of extraversion, but had mixed facet-level findings. This may indicate that matching jobs with broad and narrow traits is an important component to uncovering expected effects of trait activation theory. Research/Practical Implications Opposing directions, variability in functional form, and dependence on the extent to which jobs reward high social orientations explains the finding of much weaker relations at the general trait level. Originality/Value We integrated three theoretical perspectives on the personality-performance relationship toward the goal of explaining mixed findings from previous research: that extraversion does not show consistently strong relationships with OCB and CWB. 
Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - May 2017
EventEuropean Association of Work and Organizational Psychology Conference - Turin, IT
Duration: May 1 2019 → …

Conference

ConferenceEuropean Association of Work and Organizational Psychology Conference
Period05/1/19 → …

DC Disciplines

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Industrial and Organizational Psychology

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