Sarcasm in organizations : a review and research agenda

Abstract EN

Although sarcastic remarks have important implications for both employees and organizations, research on sarcasm has not received adequate attention in the organizational behavior literature.

The current study aims to highlight the importance of dedicating more studies to this critical variable, stressing the theoretical foundations of linking sarcastic behavior to industrial and psychological variables.

Specifically, the current study seeks to discuss this concept and indicate its psychological roles in organizations.

Moreover, it investigates some research avenues that deserve scholars' effort in the form of a research agenda.

This agenda offers a number of propositions that could advance conceptual insights on this important topic.

They address the issue of measuring sarcastic behavior and explore the potential relationships between sarcastic remarks and employees' withdrawal and innovative behaviors.

Furthermore, this review proposes a research model in which hindrance and challenge stressors mediate the relationships between sarcastic remarks and withdrawal/innovative behavior.

It also presents a number of dispositional and situational variables that could moderate the relationships between sarcastic remarks and hindrance and challenge stressors, and ultimately withdrawal/innovative behavior.