THE CONSEQUENCES of PERCEPTION of SOCIAL-STATUS-BASED LMX DIFFERNTIATION in DIVERSE WORK GROUPS

Abstract

This paper proposes the construct of social-status-based LMX differentiation (SS-LMXD) and shows its importance in predicting interpersonal behaviors in diverse teams. Specifically, we hypothesize a model in which relationship conflict mediates the relationship of SS-LMXD with interpersonal deviance and interpersonal citizenship behavior. Using a sample of 734 individuals in 75 teams, we found that individual perception of SS-LMXD was negatively related to interpersonal citizenship behavior and positively related to interpersonal deviance and relationship conflict. Indeed, we show that relationship conflict partially mediated the effect of SS-LMXD on interpersonal deviance. Theoretical implications and directions for future research are explored.