When does self-sacrificial leadership motivate prosocial behavior? It depends on followers' prevention focus.
In the present set of studies, the authors examine the idea that self-sacrificial leadership motivates follower prosocial behavior, particularly among followers with a prevention focus. Drawing on the self-sacrificial leadership literature and regulatory focus theory, the authors provide results from 4 studies (1 laboratory and 3 field studies) that support the research hypothesis. Specifically, the relationship between self-sacrificial leadership and prosocial behavior (i.e., cooperation, organizational citizenship behavior) is stronger among followers who are high in prevention focus. Implications for the importance of taking a follower-centered approach to leadership are discussed.
De Cremer
David
D
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. ddecremer@rsm.nl
Mayer
David M
DM
van Dijke
Marius
M
Bardes
Mary
M
Schouten
Barbara C
BC
D000328:Adult; D001240:Aspirations, Psychological; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010558:Personnel Loyalty; D010559:Personnel Management / Q000379:methods*; D024382:Professional Role / Q000523:psychology*; D012933:Social Identification; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012945:Social Values