Approach and avoidance motivations in response to being envied at work and their effects on proactivity

Abstract The goal of the present study is to provide a deeper analysis of the envy‐proactivity link. Drawing upon regulatory theories and Smith's model on envy appraisal, we theorize that when envied individuals focus on the potential negative impact of envy on themselves, they adopt avoidant coping strategies, which hinder proactivity, whereas concern toward others stimulates approach‐motivated coping strategies, which foster proactivity. Specifically, our model operationalizes a parallel mediating mechanism between perceptions of being envied and proactivity via the serial mediation of self‐oriented concern and distancing, and other‐oriented concern and courtesy. Results from a multi‐source survey confirm that being envied indirectly decreases proactivity via the serial mediation of self‐oriented concern and distancing, and indirectly increases proactivity via other‐oriented concern and courtesy.