Replicating and extending the political affiliation model of hireability ratings: Suspicion,an enhanced outcome space,and causal chain analyses

Abstract

Hostility toward members of opposing political parties is at record levels. To address this hostility and polarization, we test theory outlined in the political affiliation model (PAM), including constructive replication and extensions with the variables of identification, disidentification, perceived similarity, and liking. We also replicate the role of suspicion as it fits in PAM, and examine the effect of party versus candidate effects on expected counterproductive workplace behaviors (CWBs), expected influence on coworker attitudes, and expected turnover in. Finally, we further test and strengthen our findings by incorporating experimental manipulations of suspicion and liking (via causal chain analysis). Results of three studies provide support for most of the presumed key relationships in PAM. In general, liking is a key mediator to positive behaviors such as expected task, OCB, and coworker attitudes while suspicion is a key mediator for negative expected behaviors such as CWBs and expected turnover. Overall, PAM receives substantial support via replications and extensions to new variables that include expected CWBs, turnover, and recommendations to interview to help understand how political forces influence judgments in the workplace.