Does Self-Esteem Really Matter? Determining the Role of Self-Esteem in Cynical-Silent Employees

Öz

The aim of this paper is twofold. First, it was aimed to determine whether there are positive associations between cynicism and acquiescent and defensive silence, and negative association between cynicism and prosocial silence. Second, drawing on behavioral plasticity theory, potential moderating effects of self-esteem in the predicted associations were explored. A quantitative research was designed, and 522 employees included in the research. Even though self-esteem had a moderating effect on cynical-prosocial silent employees, and unlike the behavioral plasticity theory it did not have any critical buffer role. Within the context of current study, therefore, it has been concluded that self-esteem is not as significant as it has been exaggerated in the literature.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Self-Esteem
• Cynicism
• Silence

Benlik Saygısı Gerçekten Önemli midir? Sinik-Sessiz Çalışanlarda Benlik Saygısının Belirlenmesi

Öz

Bu çalışmanın iki amacı bulunmaktadır. İlk olarak, sinizm ile kabullenici ve savunmacı sessizlik arasında pozitif ve sinizm ile özgeci sessizlik arasındaki negatif ilişkilerin olup olmadığını tespit etmek amaçlanmıştır. İkincisi, davranışsal esneklik teorisine dayanarak tahmin edilen ilişkilerde benlik saygısının potansiyel düzenleyici etkileri araştırılmıştır. Nicel bir araştırma tasarlanmış ve araştırmaya 522 çalışan dahil edilmiştir. Her ne kadar benlik saygısının sinik-özgeci sessiz çalışanlar üzerinde düzenleyicisi etkisi olsa da davranışsal esneklik teorisinin aksine, kritik bir tampon rolünün olmadığı gözlemlenmiştir. Bu nedenle mevcut çalışma bağlamında, benlik saygısının literatürde abartıldığı ölçüde kayda değer olmadığı sonucuna varılmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Benlik Saygısı
• Sinizm
• Sessizlik

Kaynakça

1. Abraham, R, (2000), “Organizational Cynicism: Bases and Consequences”, Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, Vol. 126, No. 3: 269-92.
2. Akbolat, M., Işık, O., & Kahraman, G. (2014), “Sağlık Çalışanlarının Sinik Davranışlar Gösterme Eğilimi”, Kastamonu Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, C. 4, S. 2: 84-95.
3. Altınöz, M., Çakıroğlu, D., Çöp, S., & Kahraman, E. (2017), “Örgütsel Sessizliğin Ögütsel Sinizm üzerine Etkisi: Bir Alan Araştırması”, Electronic Journal of Vocational Colleges, C.7, S. 2: 73-79.
4. Amah, O. E. &, Okafor, C. A. (2008), “Relationships Among Silence Climate, Employee Silence Behaviour and Work Attitudes: The Role of Self-Esteem and Locus of Control”, Asian Journal of Scientific Research, Vol. 1, No. 1: 1-11.
5. Andersson, L. M., & Bateman, T. S. (1997), “Cynicism in the workplace: some causes and effects”, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Vol. 18, No. 5: 449-469. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1379(199709)18:5<449::AID-JOB808>3.0.CO;2-O.
6. Bagheri, G., Zarei, R., & Aeen, M. N. (2012), “Organizational Silence: Basic Concepts and Its Development Factors”, Ideal Type of Management, Vol. 1, No. 1: 47-58.
7. Battle, J. (1978), “Relationship between Self-Esteem and Depression”, Psychological Reports, Vol. 42, No. 3: 745-746. doi:10.2466/pr0.1978.42.3.745.
8. Baumeister, R. F., Campbell, J. D., Krueger, J. I., & Vohs, K. D. (2003), “Does High Self-Esteem Cause Better Performance, Interpersonal Success, Happiness, or Healthier Lifestyles?”, Psychological Science in the Public Interest, Vol. 4, No. 1: 1-44. https://doi.org/10.1111%2F1529-1006.01431.

9. Bowen, F., & Blackmon, K. (2003), “Spirals of Silence: The Dynamic Effects of Diversity on Organizational Voice”, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 40, No. 6: 1393-1417. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6486.00385.
10. Brockner, J. (1988), “Issues in organization and management series. Self-esteem at work: Research, theory, and practice”, Lexington Books/D. C. Heath and Com.
11. Çakıcı, A. (2007), “Örgütlerde Sessizlik: Sessizliğin Teorik Temelleri ve Dinamikleri”, Ç.Ü. Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, C. 16, S. 1: 145-162.
12. Cartwright, S., & Holmes, N. (2006), “The meaning of work: The challenge of regaining employee engagement and reducing cynicism”, Human Resource Management Review, Vol. 16, No. 2: 199-208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2006.03.012.
13. Çaylak, E., & Altuntaş, S. (2017), “Organizational Silence Among Nurses: The Impact on Organizational Cynicism and Intention to Leave Work”, Journal of Nursing Research, Vol. 25, No. 2: 90-98 doi: 10.1097/JNR.0000000000000139.
14. Chiaburu, D. S., Peng, A. C., Oh, İ. S., Banks, G. C., & Lomeli, L. C. (2013), “Antecedents and consequences of employee organizational cynicism: A meta-analysis”, Journal of Vocational Behavior, Vol. 83, No. 2: 181-197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2013.03.007.
15. Crocker, J., & Luhtanen, R. K. (2003), “Level of Self-Esteem and Contingencies of Self-Worth: Unique Effects on Academic, Social, and Financial Problems in College Students”, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 29, No. 6: 701-712. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0146167203029006003.
16. Crocker, J., & Park, L. E. (2004), “The Costly Pursuit of Self-Esteem”, Psychological Bulletin, Vol. 130, No. 3: 392–414. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.130.3.392.
17. Çuhadaroğlu, F. (1986), “Adolesanlarda Benlik Saygısı”, Uzmanlık Tezi, Hacettepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Psikiyatri Anabilim Dalı, Ankara.
18. De los Santos, J. A. A., Rosales, R. A., Falguera, C. C., Firmo, C. N., Tsaras, K., & Labrague, L. J. (2020), “Impact of organizational silence and favoritism on nurse's work outcomes and psychological well‐being”, Nursing Forum, Vol. 55, No. 4: 782– 792. https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12496.
19. Dean, J. W., Brandes, P., & Dharwadkar, R. (1998), “Organizational Cynicism”, The Academy of Management Review, Vol.23, No. 2: 341-352. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1998.533230.
20. Demirtaş, Z., Özdemir, T. Y., & Küçük, Ö. (2016), “Okulların Bürokratik Yapısı, Örgütsel Sessizlik ve Örgütsel Sinizm Arasındaki İlişki”, Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Yönetimi, C. 22, S. 2: 193-216.
21. Diener E., & Diener M. (2009), “Cross-Cultural Correlates of Life Satisfaction and Self-Esteem”, Culture and Well-Being. Social Indicators Research Series, (Ed. E. Diener) Vol. 38, Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2352-0_4.
22. Dyne, L.V., Ang, S., & Botero, I.C. (2003), “Conceptualizing Employee Silence and Employee Voice as Multidimensional Constructs”, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 40, No. 6: 1359-1392. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-6486.00384.
23. Erdoğdu, M. (2018), “Effect of Organizational Justice Behaviors on Organizational Silence and Cynicism: A Research on Academics from Schools of Physical Education and Sports”, Universal Journal of Educational Research, Vol. 6, No. 4: 733-741. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2018.060416.
24. Farjam, S., Almodarresi, S. M. A., Pirvali, E., Saberi, H., & Malekpour, S. (2018), “The mediator effect of occupational burnout on the relationship between organizational cynicism and organizational silence (Case of study: employees of Farokhshahr social security organization hospital)”, Revista Publicando, Vol. 15, No. 2: 1136-1159.
25. Feng, D., & Xu, L. (2015), “The relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological distress among Chinese pulmonary tuberculosis patients: The moderating role of self-esteem”, Psychology, Health & Medicine, Vol. 20, No. 2: 177-185. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2014.958505.
26. Ferris, D. L., Lian, H., Brown, D. J., Pang, F. X. J., & Keeping, L. M. (2010), “Self-esteem and Job Performance: The Moderating Role of Self-esteem Contingencies”, Personnel Psychology, Vol. 63, No. 3: 561-593. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2010.01181.x.
27. Furnham, A., & Cheng, H. (2000), “Perceived parental behaviour, self-esteem and happiness”, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, Vol. 35: 463–470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s001270050265.
28. Guastello, S. J., Rieke, M. L., Guastello, D. D., & Billings, S. W. (1992), “A Study of Cynicism, Personality, and Work Values”, The Journal of Psychology, Vol. 126, No. 1: 37-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1992.10543339.
29. Hatfield, R. D., Turner, J. H., & Spiller, S. (2013), “Altruism, Reciprocity, and Cynicism: A New Model to Conceptualize the Attitudes Which Support Prosocial Behaviors”, Journal of Organizational Culture, Communications and Conflict, Vol. 17, No. 2: 159-165.
30. Hayes, A. F. (2013), “Methodology in the social sciences. Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach”, Guilford Press.
31. Heatherton, T. F., & Wyland, C. L. (2003), “Assessing self-esteem”, (Eds. S. J. Lopez & C. R. Snyder), Positive psychological assessment: A handbook of models and measures, American Psychological Association: 219-233. https://doi.org/10.1037/10612-014.
32. Huang X., Van de Vliert E., & Van Der Vegt, G. (2005), “Breaking the Silence Culture: Stimulation of Participation and Employee Opinion Withholding Cross-Nationally”, Management and Organization Review, Vol. 1, No. 3: 459–482. doi:10.1111/j.1740-8784.2005.00023.x.
33. Jordan, C. H., & Zeigler-Hill, V. (2013), “Fragile self-esteem: The perils and pitfalls of (some) high self-esteem”, Current issues in social psychology. Self-esteem, (Ed. V. Zeigler-Hill), Psychology Press:80-98.
34. Kalay, F., Oğrak, A., Bal, V., & Nışancı, Z. N. (2012), “Mobbing, Örgütsel Sessizlik ve Örgütsel Sinizm İlişkisi: Örnek Bir Uygulama”, Sakarya İktisat Dergisi, C. 3, S. 2: 1-18.
35. Karacaoğlu, K., & Küçükköylü, C. (2015), “İşgören Sessizliğinin Örgütsel Sinizme Etkisi: Kamu Çalışanları Üzerine Bir Araştırma”, EgeAkademik Bakış, C. 15, S. 3: 401-408.
36. Kaya, N., Göncü, F. T., & Erarslan, İ. (2021), “The effects of managers’ toxic leadership behaviors on organizational cynicism and employee silence (A research on the public sector)”, Journal of Life Economics, Vol. 8, No. 1: 111-120. https://doi.org/10.15637/jlecon.8.1.11.
37. Kernis, M. H. (2003), “Toward a Conceptualization of Optimal Self-Esteem”, Psychological Inquiry, Vol. 14, No. 1: 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1401_01.
38. Lai, J. H.-W., Bond, M. H., & Hui, N. H.-H. (2007), “The role of social axioms in predicting life satisfaction: A longitudinal study in Hong Kong”, Journal of Happiness Studies: An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-Being, Vol. 8, No. 4: 517–535. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-006-9029-y.
39. Lam, B. C. P. (2011), “How do worldviews shape self-views: An examination of the causality between cynicism and self-esteem?”, Doctoral dissertation, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
40. Leary, M. R. (1999), “Making Sense of Self-Esteem”, Current Directions in Psychological Science, Vol. 8, No. 1: 32-35. https://doi.org/10.1111%2F1467-8721.00008.
41. Leary, M. R., Tambor, E. S., Terdal, S. K., & Downs, D. L. (1995), “Self-esteem as an interpersonal monitor: The sociometer hypothesis”, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 68, No. 3: 518–530. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.68.3.518.
42. LePine, J. A., & Dyne, L. V. (1998), “Predicting voice behavior in work groups”, Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 83, No. 6: 853–868. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.83.6.853.
43. Long, C., Li, Z., & Ning, Z. (2015), “Exploring the nonlinear relationship between challenge stressors and employee voice: The effects of leader–member exchange and organisation-based self-esteem”, Personality and Individual Differences, Vol. 83: 24-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.03.043.
44. Longmore, M., & Demaris, A. (1997), “Perceived Inequity and Depression in Intimate Relationships: The Moderating Effect of Self-Esteem”, Social Psychology Quarterly, Vol. 60, No. 2: 172-184. https://doi.org/10.2307/2787103.
45. Meyerson, D. E. (1990), “Uncovering Socially Undesirable Emotions: Experiences of Ambiguity in Organizations”, American Behavioral Scientist, Vol. 33, No. 3: 296-307. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0002764290033003004.
46. Milliken, F. J., Morrison, E. W., & Hewlin, P. F. (2003), “An Exploratory Study of Employee Silence: Issues that Employees Don’t Communicate Upward and Why”, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 40, No. 6: 1453-1476. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6486.00387.
47. Mirvis, P. H., & Kanter, D. L. (1989), “Combatting cynicism in the workplace”, National Productivity Review, Vol. 8, No. 4: 377-394. https://doi.org/10.1002/npr.4040080406.
48. Morrison, E., & Milliken, F. (2000), “Organizational Silence: A Barrier to Change and Development in a Pluralistic World”, The Academy of Management Review, Vol. 25, No. 4: 706-725. https://doi.org/10.2307/259200.
49. Morsch, J., van Dijk, D., & Kodden, B. (2020), “The Impact of Perceived Psychological Contract Breach, Abusive Supervision, and Silence on Employee Well-being”, Journal of Applied Business and Economics, Vol. 22, No. 2: 1-17. https://doi.org/10.33423/jabe.v22i2.2799.
50. Mossholder, K. W., Bedian, A. G., & Armenakis, A. A. (1982), “Group process–work outcome relationships: A note on the moderating effect of self-esteem”, Management Journal, Vol. 25, No. 3: 575–585. https://doi.org/10.5465/256081.
51. Mousa, M., Abdelgaffar, H., Aboramadan, M., & Chaouali, W. (2020), “Narcissistic Leadership, Employee Silence, and Organizational Cynicism: A Study of Physicians in Egyptian Public Hospitals”, International Journal of Public Administration, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2020.1758719.
52. Neto, F. (2006), “Dimensions and correlates of social axioms among a Portuguese sample”, Individual Differences Research, Vol. 4, No. 5: 340–351.
53. Noelle-Neuman, E. (1991), “The Theory of Public Opinion: The Concept of the Spiral of Silence”, Annals of the International Communication Association, Vol. 14, No. 1: 256-287. https://doi.org/10.1080/23808985.1991.11678790.
54. Orth, U., & Robbins, R. W. (2014), “The Development of Self-Esteem”, Current Directions in Psychological Science, Vol. 23, No. 5: 381-387. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0963721414547414.
55. Pinder, C. C., & Harlos, K. P. (2001), “Employee silence: Quiescence and acquiescence as responses to perceived injustice”, Personnel and Human Resources Management, 20, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Bingley: 331-369. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0742-7301(01)20007-3.
56. Pyszczynski, T., & Kesebir, P. (2013), “An existential perspective on the need for self-esteem”, Current issues in social psychology. Self-esteem, (Ed. V. Zeigler-Hill), Psychology Press:124-144.
57. Rai, A., & Agarwal, U. A. (2018), “Workplace bullying and employee silence: A moderated mediation model of psychological contract violation and workplace friendship”, Personnel Review, Vol. 47, No. 1: 226-256. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-03-2017-0071.
58. Roche, W. P. III. MD; Scheetz, A. P., Dane, F. C., Parish, D. C., & O'Shea, J. T. (2003), “Medical Students' Attitudes in a PBL Curriculum”, Academic Medicine, Vol. 78, No. 4: 398-402.
59. Rosenberg M. (1965), “Society and the Adolescent Self-Image”, Princeton University Press, Princeton.
60. Sadeghi, M., & Razavi, M. R. (2020), “Organizational silence, organizational commitment and creativity: The case of directors of Islamic Azad University of Khorasan Razavi”, European Review of Applied Psychology, Vol. 70, No. 5, 100557:1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erap.2020.100557.
61. Shojaie, S., Matin, H. Z., & Barani, G. (2011), “Analyzing the Infrastructures of Organizational Silence and Ways to Get Rid of It”, Procedia- Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 30: 1731-1735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.334.
62. Smith, T. W., Pope, M. K., Sanders, J. D., Allred, K. D., & O’Keeffe, J. L. (1988), “Cynical hostility at home and work: Psychosocial vulnerability across domains”, Journal of Research in Personality, Vol. 22, No. 4: 525-548. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1016/0092-6566(88)90008-6.
63. Stanley, D. J., Meyer, J. P., & Topolnytsky, L. (2005). “Employee Cynicism and Resistance to Organizational Change”, Journal of Business and Psychology, Vol. 19, No. 4: 429-459. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-005-4518-2.
64. Stinson, J., Wilson, R., Gill, N., Yamada, J., & Holt, J. (2009), “A Systematic Review of Internet-based Self-Management Interventions for Youth with Health Conditions”, Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Vol. 34, No. 5: 495–510. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsn115.
65. Taşkıran, E. (2010), “Liderlik Tarzının Örgütsel Sessizlik Üzerindeki Etkisinde Örgütsel Adaletin Rolü ve Bir Araştırma”, Yayımlanmış Doktora Tezi, Marmara Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, İstanbul.
66. Trzesniewski, K., Donnellan, B., & Robins, R. W. (2013), “Development of self-esteem”, (Ed. V. Zeigler-Hill). Current issues in social psychology. Self-esteem, New York, Psychology Press: 60-79.
67. Vakola, M., & Bouradas, D. (2005), “Antecedents and consequences of organisational silence: an empirical investigation”, Employee Relations, Vol. 27, No. 5: 441-458. https://doi.org/10.1108/01425450510611997.
68. Zeigler-Hill, V. (2013), “The importance of self-esteem”, In V. Zeigler-Hill (Ed.), (Ed. V. Zeigler-Hill). Current issues in social psychology. Self-esteem, New York, Psychology Press: 1-20. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203587874.
69. Zhang, Y., Xu, S., Zhang, L., & Liu, S. (2019), “How Family Support Influences Work Cynicism and Employee Silence: The Moderating Role of Gender”, Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, Vol. 60, Vol. 3: 249-261. doi:10.1177/1938965518788526.