THE EFFECTS OF LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOR IN THE NORMAL TIME ON FOLLOWER'S COPING BEHAVIOR WHEN EMERGENCY OCCURRED: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of leadership behavior in the normal time on both follower's performance in the normal time (productivity) and follower's coping behavior when emergency occurred.
In the experiment, a subject was assigned a task of checking the column of holes punched on a card, which was subsequently input to a computer by a co-worker, a confederate, working beside him/her. The number of cards processed by a subject was a measure of productivity, while coping behavior was measured by a subject's response to an alarm bell of the co-worker's computer that was unexpectedly introduced whilehe/she was left alone in the laboratory.
Leader's behavior was manipulated based on Misumi's Performance (P) - Maintenance (M) theory. In the present study, a combination of P-behavior emphasizing group goal achievement (P₂) and M-behavior facilitating group solidarity (M₂) were examined in addition to a combination of P-behavior emphasizing individual productivity (P_i) and M-behavior reducing follower's tension (M_i).
The results were as following.
1. A combined P₂ and M₂ was found the most effective concerning not only productivity but also coping behavior (quick response to an alarm bell). It was mediated by follower's strong motivation for achieving group goal under this condition.
2. Leadership behavior in the normal time affected not only follower's productivity in the normal time but also follower's coping behavior when emergency occurred. This finding seemed relevant to crisis situation in which normalcy bias may disturb a quick response to a sign of danger