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Psychological Reactance to Leader Moral Hypocrisy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2023

McKenzie R. Rees ,
Isaac H. Smith  and
Andrew T. Soderberg
McKenzie R. Rees
Affiliation:
Brigham Young University, USA
Isaac H. Smith
Affiliation:
Brigham Young University, USA
Andrew T. Soderberg
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, USA
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Abstract

Drawing on early work on ethical leadership, we argue that when leaders engage in leader moral hypocrisy (i.e., ethical promotion without ethical demonstration), followers can experience psychological reactance—a negative response to a perceived restriction of freedom—which can have negative downstream consequences. In a survey of employee–manager dyads (study 1), we demonstrate that leader moral hypocrisy is positively associated with follower psychological reactance, which increases follower deviance. In two subsequent laboratory experiments, we find similar patterns of results (study 2) and explore potential alternative mechanisms (study 3). We demonstrate in a final experiment with working adults that the relationship between leader moral hypocrisy and psychological reactance is partly explained by increased perceptions of a leader’s use of power (study 4). We discuss the implications of our findings and advocate for further understanding of the risks associated with psychological reactance in response to leaders and other workplace situations.

Keywords

leader moral hypocrisypsychological reactanceethical leadershipworkplace deviance
Type
Article
Information
Business Ethics Quarterly , First View , pp. 1 - 28
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Society for Business Ethics

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