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The Dark Side of Psychological Ownership in a Multi-cultural Work Context

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Theoretical Orientations and Practical Applications of Psychological Ownership

Abstract

This chapter will explore the dark side of psychological ownership based on a theoretical overview of psychological ownership. Psychological ownership is largely considered to be a positive concept. However, when ‘too much of a good thing’ is experienced, the dark side appears. Promotion focussed psychological ownership links power and control as a danger to form the dark side of psychological ownership from both an individual and organisational perspective. Whereas the prevention focussed psychological ownership can be considered the link between burnout and the dark side of psychological ownership. After the dangers that can lead to the dark side of psychological ownership are discussed, suggestions will be made on how organisations could prevent the dark side of psychological ownership to turn into deviant behaviour.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa

    Elrie Botha

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  1. Elrie Botha
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Correspondence to Elrie Botha .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Resource Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Chantal Olckers

  2. Optentia Research Focus Area, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa

    Llewellyn van Zyl

  3. Optentia Research Focus Area, School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa

    Leoni van der Vaart

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Botha, E. (2017). The Dark Side of Psychological Ownership in a Multi-cultural Work Context. In: Olckers, C., van Zyl, L., van der Vaart, L. (eds) Theoretical Orientations and Practical Applications of Psychological Ownership. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70247-6_6

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