Status Growth Rate and Work Behaviors: The Moderating Role of Internal Attribution of Status Gain

Abstract

We examine the impact of high status growth rate (SGR), defined as higher-than-average status changes within an organizational hierarchy, on the behaviors and attitudes of high status individuals at the workplace. We propose that high SGR will positively predict psychological entitlement, and that psychological entitlement would positively and negatively mediate the relationship between SGR and unethical behavior and helping behavior, respectively. We further posit that the key boundary condition would be the individual’s attribution orientation of success (i.e., status gain) and argue that the positive relationship between SGR and psychological entitlement will be strengthened for those who have a high level of internal attribution of status gain. We find support for our predictions across two multi-method studies. We discuss implications of our findings and future directions.