Free yourself from professionalism trap: A self-control explanation of the negative effect of involuntary professionalism

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to propose a two-pathway model to investigate the dark side of professionalism among employees. Specifically, drawing from integrative self-control theory, we anticipate that involuntary professionalism will increase employees’ cognitive deletion and reduce their work inspiration and as a result, will have a negative impact on their performance goal progress. Further, we argue that employees’ psychological reactions toward involuntary professionalism are contingent on motivational climates in the workplace, such that a mastery climate will attenuate the negative effect of involuntary professionalism while a performance climate will strengthen its negative effect. The results of a multi-wave field study (N = 309) and a multi-wave, multi-source field supplementary study (N = 584) supported our hypothesized model. The theoretical and practical implications of our findings are also discussed.