Attributional influences on the outcome-aggression relationship: a review and extension of past research

Abstract

We review past research on the relationship between attributional perceptions, emotions, and workplace aggression and develop a conceptual model that extends this research in two ways. First, we consider the influence of controllability attributions on the type (otherdirected, self-directed, hostile, non-hostile) and likelihood of aggressive responses to negative workplace outcomes and situations. Second, we consider the extent to which discrete negative emotions might mediate these attribution-aggression relationships. Implications for anticipating and preventing workplace aggression based on this conceptual model are discussed.

Citation

Harvey, P., Summers, J.K. and Martinko, M.J. (2010), "Attributional influences on the outcome-aggression relationship: a review and extension of past research", International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 174-201. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-13-02-2010-B003