Research indicates subordinates view their relationship with their supervisor in comparison to the relationships their supervisor has with other subordinates (Vidyarthi, Liden, Anand, Erdogan, & Ghosh, 2010). However, the extent to which these social comparisons create different discrete LMX-related emotions is likely due to the casual attributions subordinates make regarding how their LMX quality came to be built and perceptions that the supervisor shows considerate interpersonal treatment. In this study, attribution theory was used to argue locus of causality for relationship building with one’s supervisor would moderate the association between LMX social comparisons on subordinate LMX-related emotions (i.e., pride, anger, guilt, shame, and gratitude). Interpersonal justice was expected to moderate the interaction between LMXSC and supervisor-attributed locus of causality for relationship building with the supervisor in predicting LMX-related anger. In addition to drawing upon attribution theory, LMX-related emotions were framed using core affect theory (Russell, 2003), which aids in describing how these emotions are similar and different from emotions discussed elsewhere in the affect literature. Results show that while many expectations based on attribution theory were supported, self-attributed locus of causality for RBS and interpersonal justice had a surprisingly strong direct association with LMX-related emotions.
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