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Article
I Know What You Did: The Effects of Interpersonal Deviance on Bystanders
Journal of Occupational Health Psychology
  • Meredith J. Thompson, Utah State University
  • Bruce Barry, Vanderbilt University
Document Type
Article
Publisher
American Psychological Association
Publication Date
1-1-2011
Abstract

Using social information processing theory, we explore how interpersonally directed deviance affects work group members who observe or are aware of these insidious behaviors. In a field study, we find that indirect knowledge of work group member interpersonal deviance leads to subsequent interpersonal deviance of a focal individual. We also find that when work group cohesion is high, direct observation of deviance is more likely to result in subsequent bystander deviance. These findings add concretely to theory and research on the bystander effects of workplace deviance.

Citation Information
Ferguson, M. & Barry, B. (2011). “I know what you did: The effects of interpersonal deviance on bystanders.” Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 16: 80-94.