Characteristic adaptation as a mediator between personality and contextual performance: A partial test of the McCrae and Costa (1996) model

Contextual performance, while theorized to be strongly related to personality (Borman & Motowidlo, 1997) has only been found to be weakly related (Organ & Ryan, 1995). The present study explored the effects that personality has on contextual performance through the mediating variables of characteristic adaptations such as values and attitudes. Additionally, self-image was theorized to moderate the relationship between values/attitudes and contextual performance. Each of these variables was modeled with the McCrae and Costa (1996) Five-Factor Model personality system. Specifically, conscientiousness and agreeableness were hypothesized to predict self-transcendent values and prosocial attitudes. These values and attitudes were in turn hypothesized to predict contextual performance with the moderating effect of citizen role identity. Job satisfaction was considered as an alternative attitude hypothesis. Data were collected from United States Army cadets in attendance at the United States Military Academy and explored using latent variable structural equation modeling.; Results from the study generally supported these hypotheses. Personality was found to be predictive of values, attitudes and job satisfaction. Additionally, values and attitudes were found to predict contextual performance. Satisfaction, however did not predict contextual performance when modeled simultaneously with the other characteristic adaptations. Interestingly, values and attitudes did not completely mediate the relationship between conscientiousness and contextual performance. Finally, self-image was found to moderate the relationship between values/attitudes and contextual performance, with high citizenship role identity predicting a much stronger relationship between these variables.