What the study found
The study found that selective incivility, meaning rude or dismissive behavior directed at some people rather than others, can be experienced as a stronger threat to identity for some highly skilled ethnic minority employees than for others. It also found that the impression management behaviors used in response to selective incivility are linked to ethnic identity strengthening and organizational identification.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors suggest this matters because selective incivility is tied to racialization processes and can affect how ethnic minority workers see themselves and their organization. The findings indicate that the way employees manage impressions in these situations may shape both identity strengthening and organizational identification.
What the researchers tested
The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 21 highly skilled ethnic minority employees working in different sectors in the Netherlands. They examined the impression management behaviors these employees developed in response to selective incivility and how those behaviors related to ethnic identity strengthening and organizational identification orientations.
What worked and what didn't
The findings showed that ethnic minority identity is shaped by racialization, but that this identity emerges to different degrees in different people’s experiences. As a result, exposure to selective incivility was perceived as a stronger identity threat by some participants than by others, and the impression management behaviors they used were associated with identity strengthening and organizational identification.
What to keep in mind
The abstract describes an interview study of 21 highly skilled ethnic minority employees in the Netherlands, so the findings are based on a small, specific group. The available summary does not describe additional limitations.
Key points
- The study focused on highly skilled ethnic minority employees in the Netherlands.
- It used in-depth interviews with 21 participants from different sectors.
- Selective incivility was described as a stronger identity threat for some participants than for others.
- Impression management behaviors in response to selective incivility were linked to ethnic identity strengthening.
- Those behaviors also shaped organizational identification.
- The abstract links ethnic minority identity to processes of racialization.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Selective incivility shapes identity and organizational identification
- Authors:
- Benan Gök
- Institutions:
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-06
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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