Dr. Maggie M Davis

This study examines cognitive and behavioral mechanisms which explain why employee narcissism leads to positive and negative workplace outcomes. Drawing from social cognitive theory, we propose that grandiose and vulnerable narcissism have divergent relationships with workplace attitudinal and behavioral outcomes, including organizational commitment, organizational citizenship behavior, and workplace deviance. We further suggest that these differences can be explained via the serial mediating mechanisms of self-efficacy and political skill. Using data gathered in a three-wave survey from 296 working adults in the United States, the results of this study provide support for 12 of the hypothesized relationships. This study advances the theoretical understanding of personal and behavioral factors (i.e., self-concept and social effectiveness skills) motivating narcissistic employees to engage in positive versus negative behavior, and the boundary conditions under which narcissistic employees may operate more efficiently and effectively in the workplace.