Disclosure Dynamics: Exploring The Role of Relational Mobility In Workplace Trust Incidents

Authors:

Abstract: Recent research on understanding trust relationships across cultures has fruitfully adopted a socio-ecological approach. This approach draws on the construct of relational mobility, which refers to the degree to which individuals have opportunities to voluntarily form new relationships and terminate old ones in a given context (Yuki et al., 2007). The present study extends this literature by exploring its arguments in work relationships. Drawing on critical incident data (n=333), this exploratory study reveals that in contexts of high relational mobility such as the US, workplace trust formation is more likely to involve self-disclosure compared to contexts of low relational mobility such as Singapore and Turkey. Findings also suggest greater rejection sensitivity and vigilance in the low relational mobility contexts. We conclude that a socio-ecological approach can provide a fresh alternative to understanding workplace friendships as well as trust formation, violation, and repair.

Track: CULTGEN

Keywords: trust formation, trust violation, relational mobility, culture