Abstract:
This study aims to explore the effect of negative reciprocity on negative affective reactions and
subsequently negative affective reactions' impact on knowledge hiding behavior. The mediating
role of negative affective reactions among negative reciprocity and knowledge hiding behavior has
also been assessed. Moreover, the present study examines the moderating effect of agreeableness
on the relationship between negative reciprocity and negative affective reactions. Data were
collected from public sector universities in Pakistan using purposive sampling. A total of 213 valid
questionnaires were taken for the final data analysis. The relationships based on the hypothesis
were tested by performing PLS-SEM. The results reveal that negative reciprocity is the key driver
of instigating negative affective emotions among individuals. Following that, negative affective
reactions also are the cause of prevalent knowledge hiding behavior in people. Furthermore,
negative affective reactions intervened in the relationship between negative reciprocity and
knowledge hiding behavior. However, agreeableness does not moderate the relationship between
negative reciprocity and negative affective reactions. The study can be used to find out why and
how knowledge is hidden by workers and how it can be controlled. The results of this research can
be applied by managers, executives, and leaders to different business scenarios. Strategies can be
developed to mitigate the undesirable behaviors of workers, i.e., knowledge hiding behavior.
Moreover, this study will help policymakers to develop certain policies that can be implemented
by managers in organizations to achieve strategic goals and objectives by avoiding negative events
and reducing negative behavior, such as knowledge hiding. Knowledge hiding is a growing field
that started emerging in the last decade and requires special attention. There is also a dearth of
research that uses the affective event theory as the underpinning theory to predict individuals’
knowledge hiding behaviors. This study enhances our perception on the significance of the
knowledge hiding behavior and its relation to negative reciprocity, negative affective reactions,
and agreeableness by incorporating the affective events theory perspective.
