What do they think of me? Professional diversity, meta-stereotype negativity, suspicion, and counterproductive work behaviour

Abstract

Relatively little is known about the role of diversity in counterproductive work behaviour (CWB). Drawing on social categorisation theory, we develop and investigate a model of professional diversity on interpersonal CWB through the mediating role of suspicion and examine the role of perceived status differences as an important moderator of this indirect effect. Data from a sample of 63 United States healthcare teams (study 1) and 190 working professionals (study 2) suggest that professional diversity is positively predictive of suspicion within teams and highlights the explanatory role of meta-stereotype negativity. Further, we find that suspicion may mediate the relationship between diversity and CWB, and that perceived status differences between professions moderate the impact of suspicion, and the indirect effect of diversity, on CWB. These results highlight the importance for human resource management leaders to understand the potentially dysfunctional impact of team diversity and the levers available to lessen these negative consequences.