Does sense of entitlement predict desire for vengeance?

Abstract

HR managers note an increasing sense of entitlement at work. In the workplace, sense of entitlement is defined as an expectation for preferential treatment or rewards without regard to performance. Employees with an elevated sense of entitlement may perceive they are treated unfairly even if they receive treatment proportionate with actual performance. In this paper, we describe a study examining sense of entitlement as a predictor of vengeance tendencies. A total of 220 respondents completed measures of entitlement, vengeance, and affect across two time periods. The findings suggest that sense of entitlement may result in attitudes that predispose individuals towards negative behaviour. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.