Who withdraws? Psychological individual differences and employee withdrawal behaviors

J Appl Psychol. 2016 Apr;101(4):498-519. doi: 10.1037/apl0000068. Epub 2015 Nov 23.

Abstract

Psychological individual differences, such as personality, affectivity, and general mental ability, have been shown to predict numerous work-related behaviors. Although there is substantial research demonstrating relationships between psychological individual differences and withdrawal behaviors (i.e., lateness, absenteeism, and turnover), there is no integrative framework providing scholars and practitioners a guide for conceptualizing how, why, and under what circumstances we observe such relationships. In this integrative conceptual review we: (a) utilize the Cognitive-Affective Processing System framework (Mischel & Shoda, 1995) to provide an overarching theoretical basis for how psychological individual differences affect withdrawal behaviors; (b) create a theoretical model of the situated person that summarizes the existing empirical literature examining the effect of psychological differences on withdrawal behavior; and (c) identify future research opportunities based on our review and integrative framework.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Absenteeism
  • Affect
  • Employment / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Individuality*
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Models, Psychological*
  • Personality
  • Personnel Turnover / statistics & numerical data*