The Role of Attachment and Leader Caregiving in Followers’ Negative Affective Experiences
Emotions and Organizational Governance
ISBN: 978-1-78560-998-5, eISBN: 978-1-78560-997-8
Publication date: 7 June 2016
Abstract
Purpose
To explore the roles of perceived leader caregiving, and followers’ leader-specific attachment orientations, in followers’ experiences of negative interactions and emotions.
Methodology/approach
In a qualitative field study, individuals identified as secure and insecure (avoidant or anxious) on a pre-measure of leader-specific attachment, were interviewed regarding perceptions of leader caregiving and experiences of negative affective events in their current leadership dyad.
Findings
Followers perceived and interpreted negative interpersonal events and emotions in ways that reflected underlying attachment concerns, and embedded perceptions, of leader caregiving quality.
Research limitations/implications
The study was small-scale but provides rich relational information on which future researchers can build to further explore the development and impact of leader-follower attachment dynamics.
Practical implications
Attachment-focused leadership development training may be useful in enhancing leader-follower relationship quality.
Originality/value
This study is the first to demonstrate qualitatively the associations between followers’ leader-specific attachment orientations, their perceptions of leader caregiving, and their experiences of negative affective events in the leader-follower dyad.
Keywords
Citation
Game, A.M., West, M.A. and Thomas, G. (2016), "The Role of Attachment and Leader Caregiving in Followers’ Negative Affective Experiences", Emotions and Organizational Governance (Research on Emotion in Organizations, Vol. 12), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 35-67. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1746-979120160000012002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016 Emerald Group Publishing Limited