Coworker Benevolence Expectations and Relational Mobility: A Comparison of the United States and Turkey

Abstract: Trust-related conflicts in organizations arise not only from explicit wrongdoing but also from unmet expectations of benevolence. This study examines differences in coworker benevolence expectations in the United States and Turkey, focusing on instrumental support, personal/emotional support, and unethical pro-coworker behaviors. Drawing on relational mobility theory, I investigate how these expectations vary by relationship closeness and cultural context. Survey data from 559 employees reveal that relationship closeness increases support expectations in both countries. However, cultural differences emerge for non-close coworker relationships: Turkish employees report higher expectations of personal/emotional support and ethically questionable assistance than U.S. employees, whereas U.S. employees report higher instrumental support expectations overall. Mediation analyses show that relational mobility fully explains cross-cultural differences in benevolence-based expectations for non-close coworkers. These findings suggest culturally distinct logics of trust and highlight how culturally shaped expectations set the stage for workplace conflict and perceived trust violations.

Keywords: benevolence trust cross-cultural relational mobility