How does implicit aggressiveness translate into counterproductive work behaviors? The role of job satisfaction and workplace anger

Abstract Although implicit aggressiveness , measured by the Conditional Reasoning Test for Aggression (CRT‐A), seems to be important to understand counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs), little is known about psychological mechanisms that explain this relationship. Building on previous work, we examined the role of job satisfaction and workplace anger in this relationship, on a sample of 360 employees who filled in the CRT‐A, and reported on job satisfaction, workplace anger, and CWBs at two occasions separated by 6–12 months. Analyses using a general CWB factor indicated complex relationship between constructs. Additional analyses revealed that: (a) job satisfaction explained the relationship between implicit aggressiveness and organizationally directed CWBs and (b) workplace anger explained the relationship between implicit aggressiveness and interpersonally directed CWBs.