【Topic】To Whom Do Positive Norm and Negative Norm of Reciprocity Apply? Effects of Inequitable Offer, Relationship, and Relational-self Orientation

【Speaker】Prof. Chen Xiaoping University of Washington

【Time】2007-11-9 10:30-12:00

【Venue】WeiLun Building 501 Room

【Language】Chinese/English

【Organizer】Department of HRM & OB

【Background Information】

Various theories have been proposed to account for people’s reciprocity behaviors in their social encounters. The current research is designed to delineate the conditions under which and for whom the relational theoretical explanation is most applicable. We posit that while people in general would show more positive reciprocity reactions toward positive inequitable treatments from others, and negative reciprocity reactions toward negative inequitable treatments, such a tendency is likely to vary depending on the relationship (or lack of) with the exchange counterpart, and their own relational-self orientation. Specifically, we hypothesized that the tendency to favor close others over distant others would be stronger among those high on relational-self than those low on relational self, particularly when the treatment is negative inequitable, as opposed to positive inequitable. While participants’ national cultural background (Chinavs. theUS) was used as a proxy for their relational-self orientation in Study 1, participants’ relational-self orientation was directly assessed in Study 2. Results from both studies showed considerable and consistent support for our hypothesis. Implications of these findings to literatures in reciprocity and social exchange are discussed.