| Abstract: | This field study of 118 award-winning sales agents (24 male, 94 female) investigated possible antecedents to their experiencing comparison target discomfort (CTD). Award winners' interpersonal sensitivity, empathic concern, and competitive psychological climate, as well as upward comparison threat experienced by the award winners' coworkers, were all expected to increase CTD for award-winning agents. Results lend some support for empathic concern, competitive psychological climate, and coworkers' upward comparison threat as possible antecedents to award winners' CTD and give insight into the potential negative effects of workplace reward systems. |
