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Relationship between Machiavellianism and relational energy: based on trait activation theory

Yicong Sun (Business School, Central South University, Changsha, China)
Aimin Yan (Business School, Central South University, Changsha, China)
Xinfang Hu (Business School, Central South University, Changsha, China)
Zhimei Zang (Business School, Central South University, Changsha, China)

Baltic Journal of Management

ISSN: 1746-5265

Article publication date: 24 September 2024

Issue publication date: 13 November 2024

70

Abstract

Purpose

This study draws on the trait activation theory to investigate the relationship between Machiavellianism and relational energy, considering the mediating role of facades of conformity and the moderating role of leader–member exchange ambivalence.

Design/methodology/approach

We collected survey data from 275 employees in central China at three time points. We conducted confirmatory factor analysis and bootstrapping to test the hypotheses using Mplus7.0 and the PROCESS macro.

Findings

We found that facades of conformity mediated the relationship between Machiavellianism and relational energy. Moreover, the indirect effect of Machiavellianism on relational energy via facades of conformity was more significant when leader–member exchange ambivalence is higher.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence of how and when Machiavellians acquire relational energy from leaders.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Funding: This work is supported by the Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.71972185), the Project of the Social Science Foundation of Hunan Province (20YBA255), “High-End Think Tank” Project of Central South University (2020znzk04).

Citation

Sun, Y., Yan, A., Hu, X. and Zang, Z. (2024), "Relationship between Machiavellianism and relational energy: based on trait activation theory", Baltic Journal of Management, Vol. 19 No. 5, pp. 549-565. https://doi.org/10.1108/BJM-11-2023-0429

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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