Authoritarian-Benevolent Leadership and Employee Behaviors: An Examination of the Role of LMX Ambivalence

Lixin Chen and Qingxiong Weng ()
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Lixin Chen: University of Science and Technology of China
Qingxiong Weng: University of Science and Technology of China

Journal of Business Ethics, 2023, vol. 186, issue 2, No 10, 425-443

Abstract: Abstract According to social information processing theory and conservation of resource theory, we examine whether and how authoritarian-benevolent leadership influences employees’ proactive work behaviors (PWBs) and unethical pro-organizational behaviors (UPBs). Study 1, a survey of 351 participants, revealed that authoritarian-benevolent leadership was positively related to LMX ambivalence, and that LMX ambivalence was negatively related to employees’ PWBs as well as UPBs. Further, the results showed that LMX ambivalence mediated the relationship between authoritarian-benevolent leadership and employees’ PWBs as well as UPBs. We also found that dialectical thinking negatively moderated the effect of authoritarian-benevolent leadership on employee LMX ambivalence. Study 2, using manipulations in the form of scenarios, examined the mediating effect of LMX ambivalence linking authoritarian-benevolent leadership with employees’ PWBs and UPBs. We discussed the theoretical and practical implications of our findings.

Keywords: Authoritarian-benevolent leadership; LMX ambivalence; Dialectical thinking; Proactive work behaviors; Unethical pro-organizational behaviors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s10551-022-05225-8

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