Conspiratorial thinking in the workplace: how it happens and why it matters

IF 3.1 Q1 COMMUNICATION
Lisa Tam, Hyelim Lee, Jeong-Nam Kim
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose

Although belief in conspiracy theories has been researched since the 1970s, specific research on conspiratorial thinking in the workplace is scarce. Conspiratorial thinking could be fostered among employees in workplaces because of unequal power relations resulting from the organizational hierarchy. This study examines workplace conspiracy attribution (WCA) as employees’ attribution of problematic events in the workplace as being plotted by powerful actors within their organizations and tests its antecedents and consequences.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey dataset collected from employees in South Korea (N = 600) was used. This study tested three variables (i.e. two-way communication, employee–organization relationship quality, and perceived ethical orientation) as antecedent conditions of WCA and two outcome variables (i.e. turnover intention and whistleblowing potential) as consequences.

Findings

Perceived ethical orientation mediates the relationship between two-way communication and WCA. WCA was found to be positively associated with turnover intention and whistleblowing potential.

Originality/value

This study adopts a public relations lens to understand the significant roles of WCA in reducing turnover intention and whistleblowing potential. It expands existing knowledge of the significance of power and power disparities in organizations.

工作场所的阴谋论思维:如何发生以及为何重要
目的虽然自 20 世纪 70 年代以来就有人研究阴谋论信仰,但有关工作场所阴谋论思维的具体研究却很少。由于组织等级制度造成的不平等权力关系,工作场所中的员工可能会滋生阴谋论思维。本研究探讨了工作场所阴谋归因(WCA),即员工将工作场所中的问题事件归因于组织内有权势的行动者策划的,并检验了其前因后果。本研究测试了作为 WCA 前因条件的三个变量(即双向沟通、员工与组织关系质量和感知道德取向)和作为 WCA 后果的两个结果变量(即离职意向和举报潜力)。本研究采用公共关系的视角来理解 WCA 在降低离职意向和举报潜能方面的重要作用。它扩展了现有的关于组织中权力和权力差异重要性的知识。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
5.40
自引率
6.50%
发文量
29
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