Skip to main content
Log in

Expecting the Worst: Moderating Effects of Social Cynicism on the Relationships Between Relationship Conflict and Negative Affective Reactions

Journal of Business and Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Social cynicism, defined as negative beliefs about people and social institutions, shows negative impact on people’s affective reactions. We extended this line of work by testing the moderating effects of social cynicism on the relationships between relationship conflict and its affective consequences.

Design/Methodology/Approach

The data were collected using a computer-assisted random telephone survey method (N = 572).

Findings

As expected, social cynicism and relationship conflict were related negatively to job satisfaction and life satisfaction, but positively to intention to quit. More importantly, the negative relationships between relationship conflict and job satisfaction and life satisfaction, and the positive relationship between relationship conflict and intention to quit were not significant when social cynicism was high.

Implications

Our findings suggest that social cynicism is like a two-edged sword. Social cynicism is not only correlated with a range of negative attitudes and reactions, but also able to cushion people from the negative effects of relationship conflict on affective reactions.

Originality/Value

This study is among the first to examine the moderating role of social cynicism. Interestingly, social cynicism played a mitigating role on the relationships between relationship conflict and negative affective reactions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aiken, L. S., & West, S. G. (1991). Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersson, L. M. (1996). Employee cynicism: An examination using a contract violation framework. Human Relations, 49, 1395–1418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, F. M., & Withey, S. B. (1976). Social indicators of well-being: America’s perception of life of quality. New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bond, M. H., Leung, K., Au, A., Tong, K-Kit, & Chemonges-Nielson, Z. (2004). Combining social axioms with values in predicting social behaviours. European Journal of Personality, 18, 177–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, M. R., Mobbs, T. A., Mendoza, J. L., Novicevic, M. M., Carraher, S. M., & Beu, D. S. (2002). Implementing realistic job previews and expectation-lowering procedures: A field experiment. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 61, 263–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K. B. (2003). The effects of intrapersonal, intragroup, and intergroup conflict on team performance effectiveness and work satisfaction. Nursing Adminstration Quarterly, 27, 153–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Dreu, C. K. W., Harinck, F., & Van Vianen, A. E. M. (1999). Conflict and performance in groups and organizations. In C. L. Cooper & I. T. Robertson (Eds.), International review of industrial and organizational psychology. Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Dreu, C. K. W., & Van de Vliert, E. (1997). Using conflict in organizations. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Dreu, C. K. W., Van Dierendonck, D., & De Best-Waldhober, M. (2002). Conflict at work and individual well-being. In M. Schabracq, J. A. M. Winnubst, & C. L. Cooper (Eds.), The handbook of work and health psychology (pp. 495–515). Chichester, UK: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Dreu, C. K. W., & Van Vianen, A. E. M. (2001). Managing relationship conflict and the effectiveness of organizational teams. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 22, 309–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Dreu, C. K. W., & Weingart, L. R. (2003). Task versus relationship conflict, team performance, and team member satisfaction: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 741–749.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dean, J. W., Jr., Brandes, P., & Dharwadkar, R. (1998). Organizational cynicism. Academy of Management Review, 23, 341–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, M. K., Shaw, J. D., & Stark, E. M. (2000). Performance and satisfaction in conflicted interdependent groups: What and how does self-esteem make a difference? Academy of Management Journal, 43, 772–782.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eurobarometer. (2005). Available from the Eurobarometer surveys website. http://europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/index_en.htm.

  • Evans, M. G. (1985). A Monte Carlo study of the effects of correlated method variance in moderated multiple regression analysis. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 36, 305–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, R. A., Currall, S. C., & Tsai, J. C. (2000). What goes around comes around: The impact of personal conflict style on work conflict and stress. The International Journal of Conflict Management, 11, 32–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, P. P., Kennedy, J., Tata, J., Yukl, G., Bond, M. H., & Peng, T. K. (2004). The impact of societal cultural values and individual social beliefs on the perceived effectiveness of managerial influence strategies: A meso approach. Journal of International Business Studies, 38, 284–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, D. L. (1992). Conflict and retention of new graduate nurses. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 14, 76–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. R. (1993). MMPI-2: Assessing personality and psychopathology (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerra, J. M., Martínez, I., Munduate, L., & Medina, F. J. (2005). A contingency perspective on the study of the consequences of conflict types: The role of organizational culture. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 14, 157–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guetzkow, H., & Gry, J. (1954). An analysis of conflict in decision-making groups. Human Relations, 7, 367–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hackman, J. R., & Oldham, G. R. (1975). Development of the Job Diagnostic Survey. Journal of Applied Psychology, 60, 159–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jehn, K. A. (1995). A multimethod examination of the benefits and detriments of intragroup conflict. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40, 256–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jehn, K. A., Chadwick, C., & Thatcher, S. M. B. (1997). To agree or not agree: The effects of value congruence, individual demographic dissimilarity, and conflict on workgroup outcomes. International Journal of Conflict Management, 8, 287–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanter, D. L., & Mirvis, P. H. (1989). The cynical Americans: Living and working in an age of discontent and disillusion. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lai, J. H., Bond, M. H., & Hui, N. H. (2007). The role of social axioms in predicting life satisfaction: A longitudinal study in Hong Kong. Journal of Happiness Studies, 8, 517–535.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leung, K., & Bond, M. H. (2004). Social axioms: A model for social beliefs in multi-cultural perspective. In M. P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (Vol. 36, pp. 119–197). San Diego, CA: Elsevier Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leung, K., Ip, O. K. M., & Leung, K. K. (2010). Social cynicism and job satisfaction: A longitudinal analysis. Applied Psychology, 59, 318–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leung, K., Tong, K. K., & Ho, S. S. Y. (2004). Effects of interactional justice on egocentric bias in resource allocation decisions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 89, 405–415.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leung, K., et al. (2002). Social axioms: The search for universal dimensions of general beliefs about how the world functions. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 33, 286–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medina, F. J., Munduate, L., Dorado, M. A., Martínez, I., & Guerra, J. M. (2005). Types of intragroup conflict and affective reactions. Journal of managerial psychology, 20, 219–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meeker, B. F. (1983). Cooperative orientation, trust, and reciprocity. Human Relations, 27, 225–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murnighan, J. K., & Conlon, D. E. (1991). The dynamics of intense work groups: A study of British string quartets. Administrative Science Quarterly, 36, 165–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Navia, L. E. (1996). Classical cynicism: A critical study. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connell, B. J., Holzman, H. H., & Armandi, B. R. (1986). Police cynicism and the modes of adaptation. Journal of Police Science and Administration, 14, 307–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, R. L. (1997). Satisfaction: A behavioral perspective on the consumer. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, D. R. (1983). Conflict. In H. H. Kelley, et al. (Eds.), Close relationships (pp. 360–396). New York: W.H. Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinkley, R. L. (1990). Dimensions of conflict frame: Disputant interpretations of conflict. Journal of Applied Psychology, 75, 117–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pope, K. S., Butcher, J. N., & Seelen, J. (1993). The MMPI, MMPI-2 & MMPI-A in court. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pruitt, D. G., & Kimmel, M. J. (1977). Twenty years of experimental gaming: Critique, synthesis, and suggestions for the future. Annual Review of Psychology, 28, 363–392.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reichers, A. E., Wanous, J. P., & Austin, J. T. (1997). Understanding and managing cynicism about organizational change. Academy of Management Executive, 11, 48–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, R. S. (1989). Conflict. In R. Ross & J. Ross (Eds.), Small groups in organizational settings (pp. 139–178). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutte, C. G., & Wilke, H. A. M. (1992). Goals, expectations, and behavior in a social dilemma situation. In W. B. G. Liebrand, D. M. Messick, & H. A. M. Wilke (Eds.), Social dilemmas: Theoretical issues and research findings (pp. 289–305). New York: Pergammon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sackett, P. R., & Larson, J. R., Jr. (1990). Research strategies and tactics in industrial and organizational psychology. In M. D. Dunnette & L. M. Hough (Eds.), Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 410–489). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singelis, T. M., Hubbard, C., Her, P., & An, S. (2003). Convergent validation of the social axioms survey. Personality and Individual Differences, 34, 269–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spector, P. E., & Jex, S. M. (1998). Development of four self-report measures of job stressors and strain: Interpersonal conflict at work scale, organizational constraints scale, quantitative workload inventory, and physical symptoms inventory. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 3, 356–367.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, K. W. (1992). Conflict and negotiation processes in organizations. In M. Dunnette & L. Hough (Eds.), Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology (pp. 651–718). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, J. L., Bliese, P. D., & Jex, S. M. (2005). Interpersonal conflict and organizational commitment: Examining two levels of supervisory support as multilevel moderators. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 35, 2375–2398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tjosvold, D. (1997). Conflict within interdependence: Its value for productivity and individuality. In C. K. W. De Dreu & E. Van de Vliert (Eds.), Using conflict in organizations (pp. 23–37). London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wall, J., & Callister, R. (1995). Conflict and its management. Journal of Management, 21, 515–558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamagishi, T. (1986). The provision of a sanctioning system as a public good. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 110–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This research was supported by a Grant from National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, No. 70802055) and by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Fuli Li or Fan Zhou.

Additional information

Received and reviewed by former editor, George Neuman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, F., Zhou, F. & Leung, K. Expecting the Worst: Moderating Effects of Social Cynicism on the Relationships Between Relationship Conflict and Negative Affective Reactions. J Bus Psychol 26, 339–345 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-010-9192-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-010-9192-3

Keywords

Navigation