Ali Nawaz Khan, Naseer Abbas Khan, Ali Ahmad Bodla and Summan Gul
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of psychopathy on employees’ creativity through the mediating role of work engagement and negative socioemotional behavior…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of psychopathy on employees’ creativity through the mediating role of work engagement and negative socioemotional behavior (NSEB). It also attempts to investigate the moderating effect of abusive supervision on the relationship between psychopathy and work engagement, psychopathy and NSEB.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected at two-time intervals with a time-lag of three months. The final sample comprised of 267 public sector paramedical staff and supervisors in different hospitals from the southern provinces of China.
Findings
The study results show that individuals with a high level of psychopathic tendencies show a higher NSEB. Moreover, abusive supervision simulates negative social and emotional behaviors of those employees with psychopathic tendencies, which inhibit the emergence of novel and useful ideas.
Originality/value
This study is distinctive from earlier studies by presenting novel findings that employees with psychopathic tendencies are reactive to abusive supervision. Additionally, this study presents valuable implications and future research directions.