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A process model of prosocial behavior: The interaction of emotion and the need for justice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 June 2015

Harry “Trip” Knoche  and
Ethan P. Waples
Harry “Trip” Knoche
Affiliation:
Management Department, College of Business, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK, USA
Ethan P. Waples
Affiliation:
Management Department, College of Business, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK, USA
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Abstract

Research on prosocial behavior has tended to focus on the positive consequences of prosocial behavior. This paper draws on attribution, emotion and justice motive literature to expand the discussion of prosocial behavior in organizations. Specifically, an expanded definition of prosocial behavior is offered and a process-oriented process model of prosocial behavior is introduced. The process model of prosocial behavior is used to discuss the idea that prosocial behavior might have negative consequences. This paper contributes to the literature on prosocial behavior in organizations by (1) accounting for the effects of emotion and the need for justice on decisions to engage in prosocial actions and (2) identifying negative consequences of specific prosocial actions.

Keywords

organizational behaviorsocial exchangeemotions and moodorganizational justiceorganizational citizenship behavior
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , January 2016 , pp. 96 - 112
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2015 

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