Finding an autonomous path to positive change: a self-determination theory view of daily change-oriented organizational citizenship behavior

Abstract

AbstractThe present study investigates the relationship between employee daily social and temporal comparison and positive change in the form of change-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (OCB-CH). Using insights from self-determination theory, social comparison theory and the two-facet model of authentic and hubristic pride, we tested two distinct process models in this relationship, namely an autonomous and a controlled path. The autonomous path represents the expression of intrinsic growth tendencies relating to prosociality, creativity and healthy emotion regulation. We hypothesized that this expression is instigated by the experience of growth denoted by favorable, downward temporal comparisons and leads to authentic, rather than hubristic, pride. Subsequently, proceeding through the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs, the path eventually leads to OCB-CH. Participants from various occupational sectors (N=68) responded to a daily diary questionnaire (N=340) at the end of each of five working days. Multilevel mediational analyses supported the autonomous path: on days when employees perceived themselves as engaging in more downward temporal comparison, they were more likely to engage in OCB-CH via the experience of authentic pride and satisfaction of the basic psychological needs. These findings expand self-determination theory by revealing why downward temporal comparison information fosters proactive behaviors within organizational contexts in general and the initiation of positive change in the form of OCB-CH in particular.