Behavioral Literature Research Articles

Scrutinizing the overlooked moderating effects of gender and age on the link between perceived pay inequity and psychological distress: Evidence from Egypt

Although a positive relationship between employee perceived pay inequity and psychological distress is well established in the organizational behavior literature, the moderating roles of employee demographic characteristics in this link remain unexplored. This study aims to address this gap by examining the moderating effects of gender and age on the relationship between perceived pay inequity and psychological distress in the Egyptian context. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze cross-sectional data obtained through an online survey of 202 Egyptian employees from multiple industries, including 114 men and 88 women. Participant ages ranged from 21 to 61 years, with a mean age of 35.5 years (SD = 9.04). The findings reveal a significant positive relationship between perceived internal pay inequity and psychological distress and that this relationship is significantly stronger among men and gets significantly weaker with age. Results elucidate the mechanism through which perceived pay inequity relates to psychological distress through examining the moderating roles of employee gender and age in the link. This can help human resource practitioners understand why some employees may exhibit stronger negative responses to perceived pay inequity without attributing such inconsistencies to false grounds such as equity sensitivity differences.

The double-edged sword effect of artificial intelligence awareness among hotel employees

Purpose With its continuous development and application in the hotel industry, artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually replacing many jobs traditionally performed by humans. This research aims to understand how this threat and opportunity of substitution affects hotel employees’ behavioral decision-making. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a structural equation model, ordinary least squares and bootstrapping method to analyze the data collected with a field study and a scenario experiment from star-hotels in Shanghai, Paris and Seoul. Findings The results discovered that employees’ AI awareness has a positive relationship with their work engagement and AI boycott through two paths. The promoting path involves recovery level, while the hindering path includes job insecurity. In addition, the estimates showed that AI awareness has a great indirect effect on work engagement or AI boycott when innovativeness as a job requirement is high. Practical implications The findings offer insights to help hotels optimize the relationship between AI and hotel human workers while providing valuable implications for addressing behavioral dilemmas faced by hotel employees in the era of AI. Originality/value By integrating the behavioral decision-making literature with the conservation of resources theory, the study focuses on the dual mechanisms – challenging and hindering – through which AI awareness influences hotel employees’ coping strategies.

Behavioral Biases in Investment Decisions: A Mixed-Methods Study on Retail Investors in Emerging Markets

Retail investment in emerging markets has experienced rapid growth, driven by technological advancements and increasing public awareness of financial management. However, behavioral biases often influence retail investment decision-making, such as overconfidence and herding, which can undermine portfolio performance. This study aims to identify the key behavioral biases affecting retail investors' decision-making in emerging markets and analyze their impact on investment performance. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a quantitative survey of 200 retail investors with in-depth interviews to gain qualitative insights. The results reveal that overconfidence bias dominates, with a prevalence of 70%, followed by herding bias at 50%, anchoring at 40%, and loss aversion at 60%. Overconfidence bias showed a significant positive correlation with investment returns (r = 0.65, p < 0.01), while herding (r = -0.48, p < 0.03), anchoring (r = -0.35, p < 0.05), and loss aversion (r = -0.60, p < 0.02) had negative impacts on portfolio performance. This research contributes to the behavioral finance literature by highlighting the unique conditions of emerging markets, such as low financial literacy and limited access to information, which exacerbate the effects of behavioral biases. As a practical implication, the development of behavioral finance-based educational programs is recommended to help investors understand and manage these biases. Furthermore, future research is encouraged to explore the use of alternative data, such as social media, to monitor behavioral trends in real-time

Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Exploring the Influence of Live Shopping Behavior on Purchase Intentions in “Tiktok” Shop

Objectives: This study explores the influence of live shopping behavior on consumer purchase intentions within the TikTok Shop, emphasizing its relevance to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Understanding the dynamics of live shopping behavior on platforms like TikTok is vital for businesses aiming to leverage this innovative marketing strategy. Theoretical framework: The research is grounded with a behavioral predictor in understanding shopping decisions using the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory psychological model. SOR here, the stimulus uses store and brand image; the organism sees from quality and trust, and the response is based on purchase intention. Methods: Sample data was obtained from 419 respondents from an online survey using the snowball technique. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the proposed hypotheses Results and discussion: Brand image affects perceived quality, and brand image affects trust. Store image affects perceived quality, and store image affects trust. Perceived quality and trust affect purchase intention. Research Implications: The findings can be used as an evaluation for a marketing platform tool for the purchasing decision-making process. The development of the live shopping research model framework with Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory effectively for evaluating consumer and online shopping behavior. Meanwhile, this research also provides managerial strategies related to insights to managers of online shopping services, especially for e-commerce to be able to develop business networks by paying attention to factors that influence consumer behavior in online shopping, which will impact consumer buying interest Originality/Value: This research gives insight to behavior literature which focus on the Stimuli-Organism-Response (SOR) theory as a review tool for the purchase decision-making process and consumer behavior. In addition, evaluating consumers' online shopping behavior (TikTok Shop) developed a robust online consumer behavior concept on the influence of variables used to measure live shopping behavior in making decisions on consumer purchase intention.

Citizenship behaviors against organizational interests: perceived follower support and supervisor competence uncertainty

PurposeAdopting a followership perspective and drawing upon the literature on perceived support, we provide new theoretical insights into when and why supervisors engage in unethical behavior with the intention of benefiting a “favorite” follower, referred to as unethical favoritism behavior (UFB).Design/methodology/approachWe conducted two studies: an experiment and a multi-rater field study. Data were collected and analyzed using AMOS and the Macro process for SPSS.FindingsWe found that a follower’s standing among his or her peers in terms of citizenship behaviors toward their supervisor (i.e. relative organizational citizenship behaviors toward supervisor or ROCBS) has a positive effect on the supervisor’s perception of the follower’s support. The results further reveal that the choice of the supervisor on whether to reciprocate or not the perceived support (triggered by ROCBS) with UFB depends on the supervisor’s competence uncertainty (i.e. the degree of supervisor uncertainty regarding his/her work competencies).Originality/valueOur findings broaden the way the supervisor–follower relationship has traditionally been investigated in the organizational behavior literature by showing that under certain circumstances, followers’ good behaviors might become an antecedent to supervisors’ unethical acts.

From Posts to Action: Leveraging Social Media to Inspire Food Waste Reduction in Hospitality for a Net Zero Future

This study explores the contribution of social media to food waste reduction among hospitality customers as part of the global net zero emissions agenda. It does this by using the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) model to examine how social media food waste reduction promotion affects hospitality customer food waste intentions, mediated by social media-driven environmental motivation and sustainability-driven customer happiness. Moreover, gratitude towards food waste initiatives moderates these effects such that motivation and emotional satisfaction are more strongly associated with sustainable behaviors. We find that social media campaigns can effectively elicit cognitive and emotional engagement, which in turn strengthens food waste reduction intentions, using data from 404 hospitality customers in China. Furthermore, the study extends the SOR model to sustainability and consumer behavior literature and provides practical guidance for hospitality businesses to harness social media in engaging customers in sustainability efforts. Organizations can enhance the effectiveness of their environmental campaigns by using emotionally resonant messages and highlighting gratitude. Filling important gaps, this research explores mechanisms driving sustainable behaviors in line with strategies to achieve net zero emissions.

Emotional Instability and Financial Decisions: How Neuroticism Fuels Panic Selling

This study investigates the relationship between neuroticism and panic-selling behavior among investors, particularly during market downturns. Building on the theoretical framework of behavioral finance, we hypothesize that higher levels of neuroticism are positively associated with an increased likelihood of panic selling. The data for this research were derived from a comprehensive survey titled Survey on Life and Money, which was conducted by Rakuten Securities in collaboration with Hiroshima University in November and December 2023, with a total sample size of 189,524 participants. Our results reveal that 9.46% of the respondents fully or partially panic-sold their stocks during market volatility. Additionally, the respondents demonstrated a tendency toward neuroticism, with an average score of 2.95 out of 5 on the neuroticism scale. Using a probit regression analysis, we examined the dependent variable of panic selling in relation to neuroticism as the independent variable, controlling for various demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral characteristics. Our findings robustly support this hypothesis, indicating that individuals with higher neuroticism scores are more likely to engage in panic selling during periods of market volatility, with significance at the 5% level. This study contributes to the behavioral finance literature by highlighting the significant role of personality traits in investment decision making and underscores the importance of understanding investor psychology in financial markets. This study emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of how individual psychological factors, particularly neuroticism, drive market behavior and influence broader economic stability.

Curricular Assessment Blueprint and Needs Analysis for the Social, Administrative, and Behavioral Foundational Sciences.

The objective of this integrative review is to analyze conceptual topics, applied content, teaching and learning strategies, and assessment methods within social, administrative, and behavioral sciences (SAS) syllabi and literature. The goal is to evaluate opportunities for enhancing the adoption and implementation of Curricular Outcomes and Entrustable Professional Activities (COEPA) 2022. Recommendations to better inform curriculum and assessment planning efforts are presented for programs and faculty seeking to optimize the integration of SAS content. Our search yielded 69 SAS-related syllabi from the AACP Connect repository and 296 publications from pharmacy journals focused on education. Most SAS literature was published in the didactic setting, which represents an opportunity to interweave and apply SAS knowledge concepts through the experiential, co-curricular, and interprofessional settings. Moving forward, it is prudent to thoughtfully design assessment measures that encompass both summative and formative evaluations. The literature findings offer valuable insights and examples regarding content, teaching strategies, and assessment methods. These findings can serve as a practical roadmap, providing ideas and guidance for programs and faculty aiming to enhance the integration of SAS content into their curricula. In response to the recent guidance from COEPA 2022 and the release of Standards 2025, programs and faculty have the responsibility to thoughtfully revise and improve the delivery and assessment of SAS content. The intentional integration of SAS knowledge, skills and attitudes should be guided by a collaborative effort to develop pharmacists who deliver effective person-centered care and are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of healthcare.

Theories of consciousness from the perspective of an embedded processes view.

Considerable recent research in neurosciences has dealt with the topic of consciousness, even though there is still disagreement about how to identify and classify conscious states. Recent behavioral work on the topic also exists. We survey recent behavioral and neuroscientific literature with the aims of commenting on strengths and weaknesses of the literature and mapping new directions and recommendations for experimental psychologists. We reconcile this literature with a view of human information processing (Cowan, 1988; Cowan et al., 2024) in which a capacity-limited focus of attention is embedded within the activated portion of long-term memory, with dual bottom-up and top-down control of the focus of attention. None of the many extant theories fully captures what we propose as the organization of conscious thought at cognitive and neural levels. It seems clear that information from various cognitive functions, based on signals from various brain areas, is integrated into a conscious whole. In our new proposal, the integration involves funneling information to a hub or focus of attention neurally centered in the parietal lobes and functionally connected to areas representing the currently attended information. This funneling process (bringing information from diverse sensory and frontal sources to contact a small parietal area where attended information is coordinated and combined) may be the converse of global broadcasting, from other proposals (Baars et al., 2021; Baars & Franklin, 2003; Dehaene & Changeux, 2011). The proposed system incorporates many principles from previous research and theorization and strives toward a resolution of the relation between consciousness and attention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Adapting the National Financial Capability Test to Address Generational Differences in Cognitive Biases

This study examined the influence of cognitive biases on financial literacy test outcomes across four generational groups: Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers. Using the National Financial Capability Test and an online in silico experiment, we analyzed how cognitive biases influence the likely responses of each generation. The results indicate that the current test format aligns more closely with Baby Boomers, who are less affected by certain biases but tend to exhibit resistance to new financial strategies. A key contribution of this research is the identification of generational bias profiles and actionable recommendations for tailoring financial literacy assessments to reflect these differences. Our approach not only advances behavioral finance literature but also introduces innovative methodology through AI-driven simulations, providing a replicable framework for exploring cognitive influences in decision-making. The findings underscore the need for tailored financial education programs that consider these cognitive biases, aiming to foster unbiased financial decision-making across age groups.

Status or sustainability, can we have both, please? Decoding the factors shaping eco-friendly fashion buying

PurposeThis study investigates the determinants of eco-buying behavior by incorporating individual attributes such as personality traits and personal values and the theory of planned behavior (TPB). It also explores status consumption’s potential role in motivating eco-fashion purchases.Design/methodology/approachConducted through an online survey with 436 respondents in the UK, the study utilizes structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the data.FindingsThe study contributes to the eco-friendly consumer behavior literature in fashion, revealing that social influence, need for uniqueness, public self-consciousness, green consumption values and prosocial attitudes significantly influence both eco-behavior and status consumption. Interestingly, while no substantial impact of status consumption on eco-behavior was observed overall, a multi-group analysis unveils distinctive perceptions and intentions. A clustering analysis identifies two significant segments (status buyers and eco-savvy fashionistas) exhibiting markedly different relationships between variables necessitating tailored marketing approaches concerning eco-fashion buying.Research limitations/implicationsTheoretically, the study highlights the limitations of the TPB in capturing evolving consumer dynamics, calling for refined models that incorporate personal values and specific motivations to better understand sustainable consumption.Practical implicationsFor “Status Buyers,” marketers should focus on their desire for uniqueness and present eco-fashion as a status symbol using social proof and influencer marketing. For “Eco-Savvy Fashionistas,” strategies should highlight environmental benefits, provide educational resources and offer tools to track environmental impact.Originality/valueThis study deepens our understanding of eco-friendly fashion purchases by accounting for the diverse perceptions and values that drive consumer behavior. Recognizing the heterogeneity within the sample reveals previously overlooked nuances in this complex decision-making process.

Factors Affecting Consumers’ Attitudes Towards Low Water Footprint Products

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to explore some of the factors that are expected to influence consumers' attitudes towards low water footprint products and thereby provide insight into the concept of water footprint from a consumer behavior perspective. Methodology: Data were collected from 383 consumers using the convenience sampling method. The SPSS v24 package program was used for the descriptive statistics of the research, and the LISREL 11 package program was used for confirmatory factor analysis and to test the research hypotheses via structural equation modeling. Findings: Consumers’ water footprint consciousness, concerns about water resources, and attitudes towards water sustainability affect their attitudes towards low water footprint products positively whereas consumers’ lack of habit to reduce their water footprints affect their attitudes towards low water footprint products negatively. Furthermore, according to the findings, consumers' water footprint consciousness and concerns about water resources are high, their attitudes towards water sustainability and low water footprint products are positive, and they do not have a lack of habit to reduce their water footprint. Originality/Value: Since the concept of water footprint has been insufficiently examined in the consumer behavior and product management literature compared to the concepts of carbon footprint and ecological footprint, the originality of this research stems from the fact that this research makes important theoretical and practical contributions to the sustainability, consumer behavior and product management literatures by expanding the scope of empirical research on the concept of water footprint. Keywords: Water Sustainability, Consumer Behavior, Environmentalism, Green Marketing, Sustainable Consumption.

When feeling safe is not enough to voice: Is emotional energy the missing key?

Organizations often seek ways to motivate their employees to make positive contributions. Drawing on the proactive motivational model and social information processing (SIP) theory, this study aims to explore the effects of hotel employees’ emotional energy on supportive and constructive voice and the moderating role of psychological safety climate. The proposed model was tested using data collected from hospitality and tourism employees through Prolific (n = 390). The results indicate that emotional energy has a direct positive influence on supportive and constructive voice, and psychological safety climate moderates the relationship between emotional energy and constructive voice but not supportive voice. This research contributes to the voice behavior literature by looking at specific dimensions of voice behavior and provides additional empirical evidence for the proactive motivational model.

Leadership Traits and Investment Behavior: Examining the Influence of Leadership Characteristics on Behavioral Biases in Financial Decision-Making

This study investigates the relationship between leadership traits and behavioral biases in investment decisionmaking. Through a quantitative survey of 172 investors, the research examines how leadership characteristics influence susceptibility to overconfidence bias, anchoring bias, herding behavior, and loss aversion in investment contexts. The findings reveal a moderate negative correlation (-0.256) between leadership traits and behavioral biases, suggesting that stronger leadership qualities may help mitigate investment biases. However, regression analysis indicates this relationship is complex, with leadership traits explaining only a small portion of bias variance. The study finds that strategic decision-making capacity has the strongest negative correlation (-0.32) with overconfidence bias, while proactive management skills show consistent negative correlations across all behavioral biases. These findings contribute to both leadership and behavioral finance literature by establishing a novel connection between leadership traits and investment behavior, while highlighting the multifaceted nature of this relationship. The research has practical implications for investment advisors and leadership development programs, suggesting the need for integrated approaches that consider both leadership qualities and behavioral aspects in improving investment decision-making.

The role of objective and subjective knowledge in tourists’ environmentally conscious travel decisions

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of tourists’ objective and subjective knowledge on their decision to use environmental best practices in tourism. This study targets the alignment between objective and subjective knowledge to identify under-confidence and over-confidence in climate knowledge and their impact on tourism decision-making.Design/methodology/approachA survey of early climate adopters (n = 752) from a US-based travel network and European-based carbon capture provider assessed tourists’ climate change knowledge, attitudes, previous travel behavior and future intentions to engage in environmentally conscious best practices in travel. Using structural equation modeling, a model was developed to explore the impact of objective and subjective knowledge calibration on climate attitudes, past pro-environmental behaviors during travel and future intentions to include best climate practices in travel decisions.FindingsThe results of this study revealed that overconfidence diminished tourists’ climate-related attitudes. Attitudes were positively linked to past actions and future intentions for climate-friendly travel planning. Overconfidence undermined knowledge translation into action by diminishing climate attitudes. The findings of this study suggested that cognitive biases might be significant in shaping climate-conscious tourism behaviors.Originality/valueWhile objective and subjective knowledge have been extensively examined in the consumer behavior literature, more attention should be paid to these concepts in the tourism literature. This research addresses this gap in the literature and suggests that objective and subjective knowledge should be addressed separately in future research.

Justifying the Inclusion of Organizational Theory and Behavior (OTB) in PhD Programs in Educational Leadership and Policy (ELP)

This literature focused on an emerging construct in justifying the inclusion of organizational theory and behavior (OTB) in PhD programs in educational leadership and policy (ELP), and comparing this construct in relation to the rationale for inclusion, key organizational theories and behaviors for leadership and policy, and the benefits of organizational theory and behavior to PhD graduates that share a common concern in the dimension of effective leadership and policy in organizations. Drawing broadly from the interconnections and intersections of the organization theory and behavior literature, I offer a justification about the qualifications and benefits of OTB in ELP programs. The study likewise identified the concerns and questions to be addressed in the future and discuss their implications for research, leadership and practice. The present review indicated that OTB remains largely beneficial by offering insights into the evolution, functioning, process, progress, and research opportunities for new discoveries in leadership and policymaking to improve organizational effectiveness. Effective integration of organizational theory and behavior enhances graduate outcomes and preparing them to handle organizational challenges as future leaders and policymakers.

Learning First Aid Knowledge Not Only for the Self But Also for Others: Toward a Collective Protection Motivation Theory

ABSTRACT The practice of learning first aid knowledge on social media has gained considerable attention as a strategy for improving public health. Yet despite this recognition, the practice has not drawn commensurate academic attention. Different from individual health protection behavior, first aid knowledge learning is a collective preventive health behavior due to its collective attributes of protecting the health of others. To address the behavior, we extend the protection motivation theory (PMT) with a mixed-methods approach. Specifically, our qualitative study allows us to clarify the motivations for the behavior, confirm the applicability of PMT in this new context, and identify self- and collective cognition as well as other contextualized factors. The subsequent quantitative study validates the effect of these motivations, with the results indicating that collective cognition shows stronger effects than self-cognition in such a collective behavior context, and emotions (i.e. anticipated regret) play a significant mediating role between cognitive appraisals and protective behaviors. This study extends the health behavior literature and expands PMT by validating self- and collective dimensions. It also offers practical guidelines to practitioners on how to motivate individuals to learn first aid knowledge on social media.

The Role of Behavioral Factors in Climate Change Donations

Environmental non-profit organizations play a crucial role in fighting climate change. Most of them rely on donations from small donors whose donation decisions tend to be affected by personal factors. We examine the effects of behavioral factors on donations to climate change charities through a survey conducted among a group of participants with relatively homogenous demographic characteristics such as family wealth and educational background. We find that a potential donor’s donation amount is strongly affected by his or her perception of the effectiveness of environmental charities in fighting climate change. Among participants who pay more attention when filling out the survey, the persuasion tactic featuring factual information related to climate change appears to be most effective. Lastly, participants who feel good about having given to climate change charities are associated with larger donations, highlighting the effect of the psychological benefits of giving. Our study contributes to the behavioral economics literature by focusing on donors’ perspectives when examining the drivers behind charitable giving to climate change mitigation charities. Our findings suggest that climate charities should account for the effects of behavioral factors that best influence potential donors to improve fundraising success.

How auditory processing influences the autistic profile: A review.

We need to combine sensory data from various sources to make sense of the world around us. This sensory data helps us understand our surroundings, influencing our experiences and interactions within our everyday environments. Recent interest in sensory-focused approaches to supporting autistic people has fixed on auditory processing-the sense of hearing and the act of listening-and its crucial role in language, communications, and social domains, as well as non-social autism-specific attributes, to understand better how sensory processing might differ in autistic people. In this narrative review, we synthesize published research into auditory processing in autistic people and the relationship between auditory processing and autistic attributes in a contextually novel way. The purpose is to understand the relationship between these domains more fully, drawing on evidence gleaned from experiential perspectives through to neurological investigations. We also examine the relationship between auditory processing and diagnosable auditory conditions, such as hyperacusis, misophonia, phonophobia, and intolerance to loud sounds, as well as its relation to sleep, anxiety, and sensory overload. Through reviewing experiential, behavioral and neurological literature, we demonstrate that auditory processes interact with and shape the broader autistic profile-something not previously considered. Through a better understanding of the potential impact of auditory experiences, our review aims to inform future research on investigating the relationship between auditory processing and autistic traits through quantitative measures or using qualitative experiential inquiry to examine this relationship more holistically.

Do fear-of-COVID-19 and regional identity matter for the linkage between perceived CSR and brand evangelism? A comparative analysis in South Asia

PurposeThere is a dearth of evidence on how and when perceived corporate social responsibility (PCSR) contributes to brand evangelism in the consumer behavioural literature, especially during a pandemic situation. In an attempt to examine this phenomenon, this study investigates the effect of fear-of-COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) and regional identity on PCSR and brand evangelism effect in the South Asian retail context. It theorises linkages mainly from behavioural inhabitation system theory and social identity theory.Design/methodology/approachA survey was administered to a representative sample of 2,242 retail consumers representing Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.FindingsThe results revealed a positive impact of PCSR on brand evangelism, but interestingly varying levels of strength of the key relationships based on country-wise fear-of-COVID-19 and regional identity during the pandemic.Practical implicationsFor the first time, the results of this research shed light on incorporating consumers’ regional identity as well as consumer fear as cultural predictors for better explaining the PCSR and brand evangelism link of nations within a region. This has implications for both theory and practice in the domain of consumer behaviour.Originality/valueThe study reflects its originality by revealing the relevance of country level social identity and negative emotions of nations that can manipulate the business results of corporate ethical responsiveness from a consumer culture theory perspective, especially during and just after a crisis. These results underlie what is active inside consumer black box by explaining as to what external stimuli drive consumer collective and moral mind set in a given culture. This adds to the body of knowledge on ethical consumption behaviour more specific to consumer–brand interaction in market crises.