Exploring How Job Demands and Emotional Labor Influence Self-Regulation and Unethical Behavior

Date

2017-12

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Abstract

Unethical Behavior is a salient workplace issue due to its prevalence and detrimental outcomes. Social cognitive theory (SCT) and conservation of resources theory (COR) are applied to present a conceptualization of unethical behavior in the workplace as a resource defense and allocation strategy, stemmed by self-regulatory processes. Applying the limitations of finite self-regulatory resources as presented in the self-control literature, I suggest that demands relating to information processing and emotional labor can deplete self-regulatory resources and are associated with the use of unethical behavior as a means of resource conservation. As research suggests that self-regulatory failure is more likely when an individual has increased demands on their self-regulatory resources, I also suggest that increased emotional regulation due to low emotional stability will moderate the relationships between both job demands and unethical behavior. Results fail to support the theoretical model. Methodological limitations are discussed as well as applications to future research.

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Keywords

Unethical work behavior, Self-regulation, Job demands, Emotional labor

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