Rumor as Revenge in the Workplace

Prashant Bordia; Kohyar Kiazad; Simon Lloyd D. Restubog; Nicholas DiFonzo; Nicholas Stenson; Robert L. Tang

doi:10.1177/1059601114540750

Rumor as Revenge in the Workplace

Prashant Bordia^*, Kohyar Kiazad, Simon Lloyd D. Restubog, Nicholas DiFonzo, Nicholas Stenson, Robert L. Tang

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Two studies that examined the role of revenge in rumor transmission and involved working adults as participants are reported. Study 1 used hypothetical scenarios to manipulate organizational treatment of an employee and the believability of a rumor. Participants had higher intention to transmit a harmful rumor when the organization broke job-related promises (i.e., breached the psychological contract) and revenge motivation mediated this relationship. Believability of the rumor had no effect. Study 2 used a field survey methodology and, controlling for social desirability, replicated the results for self- and peer-reported rumor transmission behavior. Study 2 also showed that participants’ belief in negative reciprocity norm strengthened the relationship between breach and revenge motivation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	363-388
Number of pages	26
Journal	Group and Organization Management
Volume	39
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1059601114540750
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2014

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abstract = "Two studies that examined the role of revenge in rumor transmission and involved working adults as participants are reported. Study 1 used hypothetical scenarios to manipulate organizational treatment of an employee and the believability of a rumor. Participants had higher intention to transmit a harmful rumor when the organization broke job-related promises (i.e., breached the psychological contract) and revenge motivation mediated this relationship. Believability of the rumor had no effect. Study 2 used a field survey methodology and, controlling for social desirability, replicated the results for self- and peer-reported rumor transmission behavior. Study 2 also showed that participants{\textquoteright} belief in negative reciprocity norm strengthened the relationship between breach and revenge motivation.",

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AU - DiFonzo, Nicholas

AU - Stenson, Nicholas

AU - Tang, Robert L.

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AB - Two studies that examined the role of revenge in rumor transmission and involved working adults as participants are reported. Study 1 used hypothetical scenarios to manipulate organizational treatment of an employee and the believability of a rumor. Participants had higher intention to transmit a harmful rumor when the organization broke job-related promises (i.e., breached the psychological contract) and revenge motivation mediated this relationship. Believability of the rumor had no effect. Study 2 used a field survey methodology and, controlling for social desirability, replicated the results for self- and peer-reported rumor transmission behavior. Study 2 also showed that participants’ belief in negative reciprocity norm strengthened the relationship between breach and revenge motivation.

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Rumor as Revenge in the Workplace

Abstract

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