Taking It Out on IT: A Mechanistic Model of Abusive Supervision and Computer Abuse

One salient issue in organizational information security is computer abuse. Drawing on the management literature, we identify abusive supervision as a potential factor that affects the latter. As such, this paper proposes a model that formulates why subordinates commit computer abuse in response to abusive supervision. The model focuses on the mechanism of displacing aggression in retaliating against the organization. Drawing upon neutralization and deterrence theories and grounded in appraisal theory, the model offers several propositions. Most notably, the model identifies an interplay among the relevant appraisals, the emotion of anger, neutralization, deterrence and computer abuse. The model also incorporates two conditional moderators, including supervisor’s organization embodiment and controllability. The specific propositions and implications are discussed.