Advances in Management and Applied Economics

Unveiling the Dual Facets of Extra-role Behavior: How Organizational Identification and Moral Attentiveness Matter

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• Abstract

   

  This study examines the moderating roles of organizational identification and moral attentiveness in the relationship between organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB). Drawing on a questionnaire survey, we test a set of hypotheses that differentiate between OCB directed toward the organization (OCBO) and OCB directed toward individuals (OCBI). The results indicate that organizational identification positively moderates the OCB-UPB relationship, such that the association is strengthened under higher levels of identification. This moderating effect is more pronounced for OCBO than for OCBI. In contrast, moral attentiveness exerts a negative moderating effect, attenuating the positive relationship between OCB and UPB; this buffering effect is stronger for OCBI than for OCBO. By unpacking these differential moderating patterns, the study advances understanding of the complex interplay between the “bright” and “dark” sides of extra-role behavior. It contributes to the organizational behavior literature by highlighting how identity-based and moral-cognitive mechanisms jointly shape the conditions under which OCB may foster ethically questionable actions. The findings also offer practical implications for organizations seeking to encourage citizenship behaviors while mitigating the risk of UPB.

   

  JEL classification numbers: M10, M12, M14.

  Keywords: Extra-role behavior, Organizational identification, Moral attentiveness, Organizational citizenship behavior, Unethical pro-organizational behavior.