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Understanding How Individuals Deal with Paradoxical Tensions Through Ambivalence Theory: The Case of Technology Transfer Among Federal Laboratory Scientists

Description
Despite the growing popularity of the paradox perspective, there is still a limited understanding of how, why, and when paradoxical tensions influence individual behaviors. This dissertation unravels these unresolved questions through the lens of ambivalence. In doing so, I take a finer-grained approach to distinguish two types of ambivalence (i.e.,…

Despite the growing popularity of the paradox perspective, there is still a limited understanding of how, why, and when paradoxical tensions influence individual behaviors. This dissertation unravels these unresolved questions through the lens of ambivalence. In doing so, I take a finer-grained approach to distinguish two types of ambivalence (i.e., deep- and surface-level ambivalence) to explain the effects of various paradoxical tensions. Specifically, I hypothesize that intra-role identity conflict and peer value conflict may predict deep-level ambivalence, whereas mixed organizational support may predict surface-level ambivalence. Further, by examining conditions that amplify (or mitigate) various individual responses to paradoxical tensions and ambivalence, I aim to offer practical guidelines for organizational members to better manage paradoxical tensions and ambivalence. Specifically, I posit that paradoxical tensions will be more impactful in individuals’ ambivalence and subsequent behaviors when the issue at hand is made salient in their work environment. In addition, highlighting the moderating role of paradox mindset, I predict that paradox mindset will prompt a more constructive behavior (i.e., integrative behavior) while deterring defensive behaviors (i.e., avoidant and dominating behaviors) in response to ambivalence and paradoxical tensions. I develop and validate scale measures that are contextualized to technology transfer in federal laboratories (Pilot Study) and test my theoretical model with scientists in federal laboratories (Main Study).
ContributorsKim, Joohyung (Author) / Ashforth, Blake E (Thesis advisor) / Waldman, David A (Thesis advisor) / Mitchell, Marie S (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2022