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The insidious evolution of excessive workloads from the drive to enhance self‐esteem: The role of personal control and self‐construal
Author(s) -
Moss Simon A.,
Novatsis Emily K.,
Kijowska Anna
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
asia pacific journal of human resources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.825
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1744-7941
pISSN - 1038-4111
DOI - 10.1177/1038411109355371
Subject(s) - workload , autonomy , psychology , social psychology , construal level theory , context (archaeology) , control (management) , self esteem , personal development , cohesion (chemistry) , survey data collection , economics , management , political science , paleontology , chemistry , statistics , mathematics , organic chemistry , law , psychotherapist , biology
A rise in perceived workload might partly reflect the need to boost self‐esteem. This paper examines whether a decline in autonomy magnifies this need, and thus augments perceived workload, when employees feel detached from their social collectives. In study 1, 205 public servants completed a survey; autonomy was negatively related to perceived workload, especially when cohesion declined. In study 2, these results were replicated with 194 operations workers. In study 3, 164 employees completed a survey, demonstrating that personal belief in a just world was negatively associated with perceived workload when attachment to a social collective declined. Thus, individuals who feel detached from their social context, but experience a limited sense of control, demonstrate cognitive biases that amplify perceived workload.