A temporal investigation of experienced incivility and perpetrated counterproductive work behaviour

Abstract

Following the principles of dynamic equilibrium theory (DET), this study examined the stable (institutional) and dynamic (episodic) components of mistreatment [experienced incivility and perpetrated counterproductive work behaviours (CWB)] using two longitudinal field samples based on a latent trait–state modelling approach. Study 1 (N = 615) leveraged a weekly lag design over four assessment points and Study 2 (N = 880) leveraged a monthly lag design over five assessment points. Across the two studies, results indicated that the majority of variance in both mistreatment constructs was institutional (i.e., individuals have meaningful set points that persist over time). Furthermore, institutional experienced incivility was positively related to institutional perpetrated CWB (i.e., the set point for experiencing incivility was positively related to the set point for perpetrating CWB). Similarly, episodic experienced incivility was concurrently associated with episodic perpetrated CWB (i.e., atypical episodes of experienced incivility were concurrently related to atypical episodes of perpetrated CWB). Interestingly, episodic experienced incivility did not have a lagged effect on future episodic perpetrated CWB, while episodic perpetrated CWB did have a lagged effect on future episodic experienced incivility. As such, for minor atypical episodes of mistreatment (i.e., incivility), we found evidence of dynamic equilibrium in that there are immediate episodic changes in other forms of mistreatment, but internal adaptive mechanisms appear to neutralize these effects over time. Meanwhile, overt atypical episodes of mistreatment (i.e., CWB) appear to have both immediate and lasting effects on other forms of mistreatment. These results have implications for DET, as well as for predicting the effectiveness of mistreatment research methodologies and interventions.