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Joseph_Thornton_Dissertation.pdf (1.67 MB)

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Why We Care: The Mediating Effect of Positive and Negative Emotional Attractors on Social Responsibility

Thornton, Joseph C.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1568710731435323

Abstract Details

2013, Doctor of Management, Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School of Management.
This dissertation explores the effects of personal traits that affect socially responsible behavior in small and medium companies in the United States. The initial study uses qualitative semi-structured interviews of owners or CEOs to build a picture of their mental models of how social responsibility affects their companies. These models indicate that personal traits such as values and beliefs developed over their lives and influenced by their parents, education, and personal events influence their decisions on social responsibility. It identifies self-efficacy and conscientiousness as additional trait based precursors to social responsibility. In several cases, disruptive events caused personal reflection and change of the mental models leading to heightened levels of social responsibility within or external to the firm. It suggests that emotional responses create a shared bond between the owners/CEOs and their employees or with other stakeholders outside the organization. It implies that reflection can heighten the opportunities for an owner or CEO to emotionally connect with others demonstrating compassion. The second study uses a random sample of individuals in small businesses to assess how their individual traits influence social responsibility behavior at a corporate level when mediated by emotional relationships within the company. The study found that shared positive emotions (compassion, vision and positive mood) had significant positive relationships with social responsibility behaviors for both conscientiousness and general self-efficacy. Additionally, we found evidence that the frequency of volunteering behavior during an individual’s formative years had a strong positive influence on discretionary social responsibility and a slight positive influence on economic social responsibility. Philosophical orientation was used to assess personal values and traits and showed a positive relationship with economic social responsibility. The relationships suggest that creating and maintaining a positive emotional atmosphere within a company creates a strong drive for the company to become involved in social issues. The presence of a positive emotional atmosphere allows the company to see opportunities that might have been missed when there is a focus on survival or only on economic gain.
Richard Boyatzis, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Gary Hunter, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Kalle Lyytinen, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Organizational Behavior
social responsibility; small business; emotional attractors; positive psychology; personal traits; stakeholders; intentional change; mental models; stakeholder theory; CSR pyramid; philosophical orientation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Thornton, J. C. (2013). Why We Care: The Mediating Effect of Positive and Negative Emotional Attractors on Social Responsibility [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1568710731435323

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Thornton, Joseph. Why We Care: The Mediating Effect of Positive and Negative Emotional Attractors on Social Responsibility. 2013. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1568710731435323.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Thornton, Joseph. "Why We Care: The Mediating Effect of Positive and Negative Emotional Attractors on Social Responsibility." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1568710731435323

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

casedm1568710731435323
255
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