Why do employees choose defensive silence?: How concerns with formal powerholders undermine self-efficacy to dissent

ABSTRACT This study used structurational divergence theory (SDT) to explain why employees’ concerns with powerholders can encourage them to select defensive silence in their approach to workplace problems. A survey of working adults (N = 276) revealed employees who had a concern with powerholders were more likely to select defensive silence as compared to employees who were concerned about other types of workplace concerns. Results indicated that perceptions of structurational divergence—and the loss of agency and immobilization that characterize it—are associated with employees’ selection of defensive silence instead of dissent. Implications for structurational divergence theory and organizational silence conclude the paper.