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Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title The meaning of my feelings depends on who I am: Work-related identifications shape emotion effects in organizations
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Samantha A Conroy
  • William J Becker
  • Jochen Menges
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title Academy of Management Journal
Publisher Academy of Management
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 0001-4273
Volume 60
Number 3
Page Range 1071 - 1093
Date 2017
Abstract Text Theory and research on affect in organizations has mostly approached emotions from a valence perspective, suggesting that positive emotions lead to positive outcomes and negative emotions to negative outcomes for organizations. We propose that cognition resulting from emotional experiences at work cannot be assumed based on emotion valence alone. Instead, building on appraisal theory and social identity theory, we propose that individual responses to discrete emotions in organizations are shaped by, and thus depend on, work-related identifications. We elaborate on this proposition specifically with respect to turnover intentions, theorizing how three discrete emotions—anger, guilt, and pride—differentially affect turnover intentions, depending on two work-related identifications: organizational and occupational. A longitudinal study involving 135 pilot instructors reporting emotions, work-related identifications, and turnover intentions over the course of one year provides general support for our proposition. Our theory and findings advance emotion and identity theories by explaining how the effects of emotions are dependent on the psychological context in which they are experienced.
Digital Object Identifier 10.5465/amj.2014.1040
Other Identification Number merlin-id:17510
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