Curiosity did not kill the cat: It made it stronger and happy, but only if the cat was not “dark”
Objective: The present research explores the path between work-related curiosity and positive affect. To justify this relationship, we rely on the conservation of resources theory (COR) and include performance as a mediator of the curiosity-positive affect path, such that curiosity was expected to s...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Acta Psychologica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691821001943 |
| _version_ | 1819172970029907968 |
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| author | Ana Junça-Silva Daniel Silva |
| author_facet | Ana Junça-Silva Daniel Silva |
| author_sort | Ana Junça-Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: The present research explores the path between work-related curiosity and positive affect. To justify this relationship, we rely on the conservation of resources theory (COR) and include performance as a mediator of the curiosity-positive affect path, such that curiosity was expected to stimulate performance, resulting in higher positive affect. We also aimed to explore whether the Dark Triad personality would moderate this mediating path. Methodology: Three studies were conducted. Study 1 analyzed the indirect path of curiosity on positive affect through performance (n = 241). Study 2 resorted to two samples, one with participants in telework (n = 406), and the other one with participants in face-to-face work (n = 240), to explore the mediated link. Study 3 (n = 653) explored the moderating role of the Dark Triad traits (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) on the mediated relationship. Findings: Study 1 demonstrated that curiosity boosted positive affect through performance. Study 2 showed that, when workers were in telework, the mediated relationship occurred, however the same did not happen in face-to-face work. Study 3 showed that Machiavellianism and psychopathy moderated the indirect effect of curiosity on positive affect through performance, in a way that it was present for individuals low on these traits, but not for individuals high on such traits. Narcissism did not moderate the mediated relationship. Implications: We discuss the impact that curiosity may have on behavioral and affective consequences (performance and affect), and the role that personality may have on this relationship. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T20:15:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cc38bd3993b54a0195771e50fe413282 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0001-6918 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T20:15:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Psychologica |
| spelling | doaj.art-cc38bd3993b54a0195771e50fe4132822022-12-21T18:13:58ZengElsevierActa Psychologica0001-69182021-11-01221103444Curiosity did not kill the cat: It made it stronger and happy, but only if the cat was not “dark”Ana Junça-Silva0Daniel Silva1Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Business Research Unit – BRU (UNIDE-IUL), Avenida das Forças Armadas, Lisboa 1649-026, Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto Politécnico de Tomar (IPT), Tomar, Portugal; Corresponding author at: Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Business Research Unit – BRU (UNIDE-IUL), Avenida das Forças Armadas, Lisboa 1649-026, Lisboa, Portugal.Instituto Politécnico de Tomar (IPT), Tomar, Portugal; Department of Management and Economics & NECE Research Unit in Busincess Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, PortugalObjective: The present research explores the path between work-related curiosity and positive affect. To justify this relationship, we rely on the conservation of resources theory (COR) and include performance as a mediator of the curiosity-positive affect path, such that curiosity was expected to stimulate performance, resulting in higher positive affect. We also aimed to explore whether the Dark Triad personality would moderate this mediating path. Methodology: Three studies were conducted. Study 1 analyzed the indirect path of curiosity on positive affect through performance (n = 241). Study 2 resorted to two samples, one with participants in telework (n = 406), and the other one with participants in face-to-face work (n = 240), to explore the mediated link. Study 3 (n = 653) explored the moderating role of the Dark Triad traits (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) on the mediated relationship. Findings: Study 1 demonstrated that curiosity boosted positive affect through performance. Study 2 showed that, when workers were in telework, the mediated relationship occurred, however the same did not happen in face-to-face work. Study 3 showed that Machiavellianism and psychopathy moderated the indirect effect of curiosity on positive affect through performance, in a way that it was present for individuals low on these traits, but not for individuals high on such traits. Narcissism did not moderate the mediated relationship. Implications: We discuss the impact that curiosity may have on behavioral and affective consequences (performance and affect), and the role that personality may have on this relationship.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691821001943Work-related curiosityPerformancePositive affectDark Triad |
| spellingShingle | Ana Junça-Silva Daniel Silva Curiosity did not kill the cat: It made it stronger and happy, but only if the cat was not “dark” Acta Psychologica Work-related curiosity Performance Positive affect Dark Triad |
| title | Curiosity did not kill the cat: It made it stronger and happy, but only if the cat was not “dark” |
| title_full | Curiosity did not kill the cat: It made it stronger and happy, but only if the cat was not “dark” |
| title_fullStr | Curiosity did not kill the cat: It made it stronger and happy, but only if the cat was not “dark” |
| title_full_unstemmed | Curiosity did not kill the cat: It made it stronger and happy, but only if the cat was not “dark” |
| title_short | Curiosity did not kill the cat: It made it stronger and happy, but only if the cat was not “dark” |
| title_sort | curiosity did not kill the cat it made it stronger and happy but only if the cat was not dark |
| topic | Work-related curiosity Performance Positive affect Dark Triad |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691821001943 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anajuncasilva curiositydidnotkillthecatitmadeitstrongerandhappybutonlyifthecatwasnotdark AT danielsilva curiositydidnotkillthecatitmadeitstrongerandhappybutonlyifthecatwasnotdark |