When is success not satisfying? Integrating regulatory focus and approach/avoidance motivation theories to explain the relation between core self-evaluation and job satisfaction

Integrating implications from regulatory focus and approach/avoidance motivation theories, we presenta framework wherein motivational orientations toward positive (approach motivation orientation) ornegative (avoidance motivation orientation) stimuli interact with workplace success to mediate therelation of core self-evaluation (CSE) with job satisfaction. Using data collected from supervisor–subordinate dyads (Sample 1) and time-lagged data (Sample 2), we found that the results from twostudies indicated that the interaction of workplace success and avoidance motivation orientation mediatedrelations of CSE with job satisfaction. Although approach motivation orientation did not interact withworkplace success, it did mediate the CSE–job satisfaction relation on its own. Implications for the CSEand approach/avoidance literatures are discussed