Define a Research Area / Problem - Essay Example

Brass (2003), negative relationships in the work setting can form a threat to one’s emotional being as well as to the productive functioning of an organization. Furthermore, negative interactions are also found to be consistently related to critical workplace and personal outcomes. For example, organizational scholars have found that abusive supervisory behavior was positively related to subordinate frustration (Ashforth, 1997), job dissatisfaction (Tepper, 2000; Valle, 2005), dysfunctional resistance (Tepper, Duffy & Shaw, 2000), and withholding organizational citizenship behaviors (Zellars et al., 2002). This negative relationship between a supervisor and subordinate, in particular abusive supervision captures a variety of hostile actions including tyrannical behaviors (Ashforth, 1997), social undermining behaviors (Duffy, Ganster, & Pagon, 2002), and nonphysical aspects of workplace aggression (Neuman & Baron, 1996).

Although, it has been proposed to be a low-based rate phenomenon (e.g. Tepper, Duffy, Hoobler & Ensley, 2004; Zellars et al., 2002), its consequences can be devastating for subordinates (e.g., Ashforth, 1997; Duffy et al, 2002; Tepper, 2000; Valle, 2005). Tepper (2000) emphasized that the potential harm associated with abusive supervision ought to serve as warning for organizations. Employees consider abusive supervision as a source of injustice that has implications on their attitudes and well-being (Tepper, 2000).

This study intended to determine the behavioral and emotional consequences of abusive supervision, concentrating on various aspects of relationships: First, is the direct relationship of abusive supervision to counterproductive behaviors. Second, the mediating effects of state anger between the relationship of abusive supervision and counterproductive behaviors. Third, the moderating effects of trait anger and aggressive organizational culture between abusive supervision and counterproductive behaviors.

Furthermore, the study