The effects of negative affectivity, hierarchical status, and self-determination on workplace victimization

This study investigated the conditions under which employees are more or le ss likely to become targets of coworkers' aggressive actions. Results from a field survey showed people high in negative affectivity more often percei ved themselves as victims, as did people who were low in the self-determina tion component of empowerment. In addition, hierarchical status appeared to buffer the influence of negative affectivity: Negative affectivity was not related to indirect victimization for higher-status people but was positiv ely related to indirect victimization for lower-status people.