With Frenemies Like These: Social Networks Ties and Interpersonal Citizenship Behaviors

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between the type of social network tie shared between two individuals—positive, negative, or ambivalent multiplex (both positive and negative tie components)—and the performance of interpersonal citizenship behavior (ICB), a form of individually-targeted organizational citizenship behavior. Drawing from ego depletion theory, social exchange theory, and the social functions of emotions perspective, we argue that dyadic relational qualities influence the individual’s decision to perform ICBs. Further, based on social categorization theory and social information processing theory, we posit that the number of positive alters a dyad shares increases the probability of ICB. We test the theoretical model in a study including 48 employees of a supplier organization for large retailers and food service companies using exponential random graph models (ERGMs). Results offer support for the hypothesized relationships, and the practical implications, as well as future research questions, are addressed.