A within-person examination of the effect of mentors’ daily ostracism on protégés’ displaced aggression and in-role performance

Abstract

Purpose: Drawing on social information processing theory and social comparison theory, we test how mentors’ daily ostracism triggers protégés’ envy, thus leading to decreased in-role performance and increased displaced aggression. Design/methodology/approach: Using an experience sampling study across three work weeks, the study provided theoretical and empirical examinations of dynamic, within-person processes related to mentors’ ostracism. Findings: Mentors’ daily ostracism triggers protégés’ envy, which mediates the effect of mentors’ daily ostracism on protégés’ displaced aggression and in-role performance. Our findings supported our hypothesis of the buffering effect of mentorship quality on the negative effect of mentors’ ostracism on protégés’ envy but did not show a significant moderating effect on the mediating effect of protégés’ emotions between mentors’ daily ostracism and protégés’ behaviors. Research limitations/implications: Our study focused on the victims of mentors’ ostracism on a daily basis. We constructed an overarching theoretical model to investigate how, why, and when mentors’ daily ostracism leads to protégés’ emotional and behavioral variability. Practical implications: The study provided how to cope with ostracism and envy. Originality/value: We discuss the theoretical implications of our findings for research on mentors’ ostracism, protégés’ emotions, and protégés’ behaviors.