Approach or Avoidance: Contrasting Effects of Envy-Related Coping Strategies

Abstract

High performing employees are often expected to take initiative and engage in extra-role activities. But the harmful consequences of coworker envy stemming from outperformance might discourage employees to take initiative – a disrupting factor that management scholars yet to fully understand. With the present research, we hope to address this deficiency and provide a deeper analysis of the envy-proactivity link. We draw upon regulatory theories and examine how approach and avoidance motivations of envied employees drive distinct patterns of their envy appraisal and subsequent coping strategies. Our findings suggest that the extent to which individuals focus on the potential negative impact of envy on themselves, drives the selection of avoidant coping strategies, which hinders proactivity. However, concern towards the envier stimulate approach motivated coping strategy, which in turn can enhance proactive behaviors. Our pilot study conducted among international working professionals provided initial evidence that self-oriented concern in the face of envy stimulate distancing behaviors (avoidance motivation), whereas other-oriented concern prompts envied individuals to engage in courtesy (approach motivation). Study 2 demonstrated that these two mechanisms have contrastive effect on proactivity: the serial mediation was negative through self-oriented concern and distancing, but positive through other-oriented concern and courtesy. An experimental design in Study 3 further strengthen the robustness of these findings.