Can personality buffer cynicism? Moderating effects of extraversion and neuroticism in response to workplace hassles

The present study focuses on how personality traits can either buffer or enhance the relationship between negative events and organizational cynicism. Cynicism was strongly predicted by three antecedents: workplace hassles, psychological contract violations, and procedural injustice perceptions---with contract violations being the strongest predictor. The relationship between workplace hassles and affective organizational cynicism was found to be moderated by trait extraversion and neuroticism, although not in the expected directions. Rather than heightening sensitivity to hassles, employee neuroticism produced a cynical attitude regardless of negative events. As such emotionally stable employees were actually more sensitive to hassles. Additionally, extroverts were more sensitive to hassles than were introverts, likely due to the interpersonal nature of the hassles. Effects of injustice perceptions and psychological contract violations on cynicism were unmoderated. The role of individual differences in managing organizational cynicism is discussed.