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The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York

The Dark Side of Charismatic Leadership: A Social Exchange Perspective

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This dissertation focuses on a possible dark side of charismatic leadership and its behavioral consequences from a social exchange perspective. By revealing the positive correlations between charismatic leadership and the Dark Triad personality traits of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, this study provides empirical evidence for the possibility of charismatic leaders with negative personality traits generating harm. Based on a sample of 99 leader-follower dyads recruited from a Chinese work organization, the findings suggest that more charismatic leaders are more likely to behave in autocratic ways and the followers of such leaders will more likely enact pro-leader unethical behaviors. These findings provide new insights for the charismatic leadership literature and contribute to a more complete understanding of charismatic leadership theory. By highlighting the possible negative consequences of an often favorably viewed leadership style, the findings of this dissertation also provide practical implications for leaders, employees, and work organizations.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy
Level thesis:degree_level
Doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Business
Grantor
The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York
Year dc:date.available
2018

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Ma, Bin
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Donald Vredenburgh
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Stephan Dilchert
  • C. Justice Tillman
  • Yu Yue

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2777
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:gc_etds-3840

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
City University of New York - Graduate Center
Base URL
academicworks.cuny.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Ma, Bin. The Dark Side of Charismatic Leadership: A Social Exchange Perspective. Doctoral thesis, The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York, 2018. https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2777