The role of dark and light personality on unethical pro-organizational behaviours: A mixed method research

The main purpose of this dissertation is to determine the mediation role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in the effect of light and dark personality traits on unethical pro-organizational behaviors. The contrasting structure of light and dark personality traits is blended with the contrast that unethical pro-organizational behaviors alone reflect. The mediation effect of the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation types discussed within the scope of Self-Determination Theory plays an important role in understanding the interaction between the aforementioned personality traits and unethical pro-organizational behaviors. The dissertation study was designed with a mixed research model. In the qualitative research part, the concept patterns between the research variables are discussed in depth. The population of the study consists of bank personnel working in our country. As a result of 'Theoretical Sampling' and 'Easily Accessible Case Sampling', the patterns about the light and dark personalities of individuals were discussed with 'Content Analysis' as a result of face-to-face and online interviews with 11 bank personnel. In addition, the factors that play a role in the display of unethical pro-organizational behaviors were discussed with the patterns and participant views between the type of motivation and the display of unethical pro-organizational behaviors were evaluated. In this section, the 'Corporate Image' variable is included in the research model that is planned to be tested with quantitative research. In the quantitative research part, a research model was created based on the findings obtained as a result of qualitative research. The population of the research consists of bank personnel actively working in our country. Data were collected by survey method from 430 participants with the "Stratified Sampling" method from 7 geographical regions that have the ability to represent Turkey. According to the results of the mediation effect analysis, it was found that individuals with light personalities exhibit unethical pro-organizational behaviors through both internal and external motivation; and it has been determined that individuals with dark personality traits exhibit unethical pro-organizational behaviors only with the mediating effect of extrinsic motivation. It has been observed that corporate image does not have a significant value in conditional mediation effect models. The conceptual framework of the study, research method, results, suggestions to other researchers and discussions are explained in details. Key Words: Dark Personality Traits, Light Personality Traits, Motivation, Unethical Pro-Organizational Behaviours