Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Major
Psychology, Industrial and Organizational
Date of Defense
4-14-2017
Graduate Advisor
John Meriac
Committee
Stephanie Merritt
Mark Tubbs
Jeffery Noel
Abstract
Despite research showing that politics can be beneficial, a commonly held perception is that politics are negative, harmful, and associated with adverse outcomes. The qualitative differences between positive and negative politics perceptions and their results are still mostly elusive.
This research adds clarity by examining perceptual processes surrounding positive and negative politics perceptions. Using an experimental manipulation, behavior was held constant while political actor motivation was varied. The positive or negative inferred motives and attributions made of the actor related logically to the positive or negative nature of the politics perceptions. Further, attribution type was related to positive or negative political behavior intentions through politics perceptions.
These results expand understanding of positive and negative political behavior and subsequent perceptions, giving emphasis to the importance of perceived motivation and attributions. It further demonstrates how these perceptions relate to political behavior intentions by the observers. In total, it indicates the importance of actor motivations, individual differences within the perceiver, and the political behavior itself in the processes surrounding positive and negative politics perceptions.
Recommended Citation
Hill, Sarah, "Positive vs. Negative Politics and Behavioral Intentions: An Experimental Examination" (2017). Dissertations. 642.
https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/642
Included in
Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons, Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons, Organization Development Commons, Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, Social Psychology Commons