The Impact of Leader Moral Humility on Follower Moral Self-Efficacy and Behavior

This study utilizes social-cognitive theory, humble leadership theory, and the behavioral ethics literature to theoretically develop the concept of leader moral humility and its effects on followers. Specifically, we propose a theoretical model wherein leader moral humility and follower implicit the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied psychology 2019-01, Vol.104 (1), p.146-163
Main Authors: Owens, Bradley P., Yam, Kai Chi, Bednar, Jeffrey S., Mao, Jianghua, Hart, David W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavior
Cognitive-behavioral factors
Ethics
Female
Human
Implicit theories
Leadership
Male
Morality
Prosocial Behavior
Self-Efficacy
Social Cognition
Theories
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Summary:This study utilizes social-cognitive theory, humble leadership theory, and the behavioral ethics literature to theoretically develop the concept of leader moral humility and its effects on followers. Specifically, we propose a theoretical model wherein leader moral humility and follower implicit theories about morality interact to predict follower moral efficacy, which in turn increases follower prosocial behavior and decreases follower unethical behavior. We furthermore suggest that these effects are strongest when followers hold an incremental implicit theory of morality (i.e., believing that one's morality is malleable). We test and find support for our theoretical model using two multiwave studies with Eastern (Study 1) and Western (Study 2) samples. Furthermore, we demonstrate that leader moral humility predicts follower moral efficacy and moral behaviors above and beyond the effects of ethical leadership and leader general humility.
ISSN:0021-9010
1939-1854
DOI:10.1037/apl0000353