Observers’ Moral Elevation and Helping Behavior Following the Abusive Supervision of Coworkers

Abstract

While previous studies have argued that observers of abusive supervision are driven by negative moral emotions (i.e., moral outrage) to help the victim but harm the perpetrator, we argue that positive moral emotions (i.e., moral elevation) can also motivate observers to help the victim and the perpetrator. A field study utilizing critical incident techniques provides support for our theory that, in addition to previously found relationships, observers of abusive supervision experience moral elevation (i.e., an admiration for virtue) when the victimized coworker stands up for themselves and opposes the abusive supervisor. Moral elevation, in turn, promotes benevolent behavior and increases observers’ supervisor- and victim-directed helping. Together, our study unveils victimized coworkers as a potential source of moral elevation for observers and highlight when observers of abusive supervision may be motivated to act benevolently towards both victims and perpetrators of abusive supervision.