A Cross-Cultural Investigation of the Effects of Incivility on Occupational Aspirations

Abstract

This study provides evidence regarding the effects of incivility on career intentions across cultures with respondents from the United States (US) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Drawing on social cognitive career theory, we contend that uncivil treatment affects an individual’s psychological well-being, which predicts competence and occupational aspirations. Our hypotheses were largely supported across cultures, such that participants in the US and UAE were negatively affected by incivility in similar ways. In particular, across both cultures, psychological distress was negatively related to competence, consistent with arguments that distress relates to diminished self-views. This research has implications for students’ expectations about future occupational roles, as colleges teach not only job-related skills, but also set the stage for students’ expectations of their future selves.