Perverse Effects of Other-Referenced Performance Goals in an Information Exchange Context

We argue and demonstrate that an emphasis on outperforming others may lead to perverse effects. Four studies show that assigning other-referenced performance goals, relative to self-referenced mastery goals, may lead to more interpersonally harmful behavior in an information exchange context. Result...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Poortvliet, P. Marijn (Author) ; Anseel, Frederik (Author) ; Janssen, Onne (Author) ; Van Yperen, Nico W. (Author) ; Van de Vliert, Evert (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Springer 2012
In: Journal of business ethics
Year: 2012, Volume: 106, Issue: 4, Pages: 401-414
Further subjects:B Information Exchange
B Tactical deception
B Interpersonally harmful behavior
B Achievement goals
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Summary:We argue and demonstrate that an emphasis on outperforming others may lead to perverse effects. Four studies show that assigning other-referenced performance goals, relative to self-referenced mastery goals, may lead to more interpersonally harmful behavior in an information exchange context. Results of Study 1 indicate that assigned performance goals lead to stronger thwarting behavior and less accurate information giving to an exchange partner than assigned mastery goals. Similarly, in Study 2 performance goal individuals more subtly deceived highly competent opponents relative to lowly competent opponents, who received more blatant treatment. Finally, Studies 3 and 4 show in methodologically complementary ways that tactical deception considerations may account for the interpersonally harmful behavior of performance goal individuals.
ISSN:1573-0697
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of business ethics
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1007/s10551-011-1005-8