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Article
Sins of the Parents: Self-control as a Buffer between Supervisors' Previous Experience of Family Undermining and Subordinates' Perceptions of Abusive Supervision
Leadership Quarterly
  • Christian Kiewitz, University of Dayton
  • Simon Lloyd D. Restubog, University of New South Wales
  • Thomas Zagenczyk, Clemson University
  • Kristin D. Scott, Clemson University
  • Patrick Raymund James M. Garcia, Australian National University, Canberra
  • Robert L Tang, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Philippines
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2012
Abstract

Drawing upon social learning theory, the intergenerational transmission of violence hypothesis, and research on self-control, we develop a model of the relationships among previous experiences of family undermining, self-control, and abusive supervision. We tested the model with data obtained from supervisor-employee matched pairs in Study 1 and matched triads in Study 2. Results revealed that: 1) supervisors who experienced higher levels of family undermining (whether reported by the immediate supervisor or a sibling) during childhood are more likely to engage in abusive supervisory behaviors as adults; and 2) this relationship is moderated such that it is stronger for supervisors with low self-control. Overall, our results highlight the role of self-control in mitigating the impact of supervisors' previous experiences of family undermining on subordinate perceptions of abusive supervision, even after controlling for previously established antecedents.

Inclusive pages
869-882
ISBN/ISSN
1048-9843
Comments

This article originally appeared in The Leadership Quarterly. For the final published form please visit http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1048984312000458.

Publisher
Elsevier
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Keywords
  • Abusive supervision,
  • Destructive leadership,
  • Family undermining,
  • Self-control,
  • Workplace bullying
Citation Information
Christian Kiewitz, Simon Lloyd D. Restubog, Thomas Zagenczyk, Kristin D. Scott, et al.. "Sins of the Parents: Self-control as a Buffer between Supervisors' Previous Experience of Family Undermining and Subordinates' Perceptions of Abusive Supervision" Leadership Quarterly Vol. 23 Iss. 5 (2012)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/christian_kiewitz/9/