Benevolent Leadership and Interpersonal Deviant Behaviors in Higher Education

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between benevolent leadership and interpersonal deviance and the mediating effects of psychological capital and psychological ownership on that relationship in higher education. The study sample included 1190 faculty members along with their 78 department chairs in 13 universities selected by the cluster random-sampling method in İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Antalya, Adana, Bursa, Samsun, Kayseri, Erzurum and Gaziantep. It was completed in 9 January - 24 February 2017. Faculty member’s perceptions of psychological capital, psychological ownership and benevolent leadership were measured using “the Psychological Capital Questionnaire” developed by Luthans, Youssef, & Avolio (2007), “the Psychological Ownership Scale” developed by Avey, Avolio, Crossley, & Luthans (2008) and Cheng, Chou, & Farh’s (2000) “Benevolent Leadership Scale” respectively. Bennett and Robinson’s (2000) “Interpersonal Deviance Scale” was used to assess department chair’s perception of the interpersonal deviance. Results revealed a significant negative relationship between benevolent leadership and interpersonal deviance and fully mediating effects of psychological capital and psychological ownership on that relationship.