WHEN DOES PSYCHOLOGICAL ENTITLEMENT LEAD TO INCIVILITY? THE ROLE OF ABUSIVE SUPERVISION PERCEPTIONS AND RUMINATION

Abstract

The present study investigates the influence of psychological entitlement on instigated incivility of
employees accompanied by mediating impact of abusive supervision perceptions. The buffering role
of rumination on the linkage between abusive supervision perceptions and instigated incivility is also
analyzed. Using a time lag approach, data were collected from 276 employees from service industry in
three phases. The results demonstrate that psychological entitlement augments the uncivil behaviors
of employees. The mediating effect of abusive supervision perceptions on the association between
psychological entitlement and instigated incivility is also established. Moreover, the results reveal
that rumination intensifies the positive influence of abusive supervision on instigated incivility of
employees. The findings of the research will guide organizational management in understanding how
to cope with entitlement tendency of employees. The extant research expands the scope through which
the impact of psychological entitlement on employee behavioral reactions can be studied.