Psychology of the Workplace
The unexpected link between narcissism, perfectionism, and boredom at work
A study of 210 Hungarian workers expected boredom to make narcissistic employees disengage. Instead, those high in grandiose narcissism reported pushing toward higher standards when bored, hinting that monotony can act as a motivator.
The way you use AI shapes how you feel about your job, new study shows
A new experiment finds that passively copying AI-generated content can lower workers' confidence and sense of meaning, while drafting first and using AI to refine preserves their connection to the work.
When you don’t know your work schedule, your happiness may pay the price
A new study finds that unpredictable and unstable work schedules are linked to lower happiness, with an effect that can rival or exceed the link between wellbeing and family income.
Importing cheaper parts may slow a company’s drive to innovate
A study of 6,024 Canadian manufacturers finds that importing cheap components from low-wage countries was linked to a 15 percent drop in research spending, as cheaper old products dulled the incentive to develop new ones.
When the boss is a narcissist, employees may start bending the rules
A study across two South Korean surveys finds that narcissistic leaders tend to create workplace uncertainty, which is linked to more employee cheating, especially among workers with greater job autonomy.
Rationalization, not pressure, emerges as key link between dark traits and unethical intent
A survey of accounting students near graduation traces how three "dark" personality traits connect to unethical workplace intentions, finding that specific mental justifications, not raw pressure, carry most of the weight.
Do dark personality traits help workers survive a toxic boss?
A new study finds that workers high in "dark" personality traits tend to fare better on well-being and advancement under a toxic boss, but still want to quit just as much as everyone else.
When perfectionism collides: Why mismatched standards between you and your boss can sink your performance
New research finds that mismatched perfectionism between employees and supervisors increases role ambiguity, which is linked to lower job satisfaction, higher burnout, and weaker performance ratings.
Why some accountants redesign their own jobs, and what personality has to do with it
New research finds that accountants' personalities, particularly openness and curiosity, predict whether they quietly reshape their jobs toward advisory work, even when their formal role doesn't call for it.
The four faces of a narcissistic boss, and how each one shapes your work life
A study of 442 German employees finds that "narcissistic boss" is too blunt a label: charm boosts engagement, rivalry erodes it, and a withdrawn leader may unexpectedly leave staff feeling more engaged, not less.