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OCB as a handicap: an evolutionary psychological perspective
Author(s) -
Salamon Sabrina Deutsch,
Deutsch Yuval
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of organizational behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.938
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1099-1379
pISSN - 0894-3796
DOI - 10.1002/job.348
Subject(s) - unobservable , perspective (graphical) , organizational citizenship behavior , psychology , evolutionary psychology , citizenship , social psychology , epistemology , organizational commitment , computer science , political science , artificial intelligence , law , philosophy , politics
In this article, we seek to contribute to research on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) by adopting a psychological evolutionary perspective that offers a novel way of interpreting such behaviors. Specifically, drawing on the handicap principle in evolutionary biology, we propose that by demonstrating the ability to bear the burden associated with costly OCBs, organizational members can credibly signal their otherwise unobservable capabilities to others. We develop a model that explores antecedents and outcomes of engaging in costly OCBs and offer avenues for future research within this framework. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.