Why and when do motives matter? An integrative model of motives, role cognitions, and social support as predictors of OCB

We extend prior thinking about citizenship behavior by integrating employee motives, social support,and role cognitions as predictors of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Drawing on trait activationand situated self theories, we provide insights into why and when motives predict OCB using multisourcedata from two field samples. In Study 1, we demonstrate that the quality of social support functionsas a boundary condition that qualifies relations of motives with OCB. In Study 2, we introduce rolecognitions as a proximal motivational factor that mediates the motives by social support interactionswith OCB. Our results support the hypothesized moderated mediated model and enhance understandingof OCB by integrating the OCB motive and role cognition literatures, which to date have developed separately.As our results demonstrate, role cognitions, which are domain-specific felt obligations to performOCB, mediate relations of more distal predispositions to perform OCB with helping and voice citizenship behaviors