How disinhibition explains reward omission leadership

Disinhibition is a lack of restraint manifesting as tactless, uncivil, and inappropriate behavior; reward omission leadership is the failure of a leader to reward desirable behavior. We hypothesize disinhibition is associated with reward omission leadership. We test this possibility by associating an objective measure of disinhibition and personality models of disinhibition with reward omission leadership. In S1 ( N = 166), the go/no-go task and personality models of disinhibition were generally associated with reward omission leadership. In S2 ( N = 176), using multi-actor ratings, personality models of disinhibition were generally associated with reward omission leadership. In S3 ( N = 91 junior managers; 273 employees), the tested personality model of disinhibition was associated with reward omission leadership using employee ratings from a non-Western organization. Results suggest disinhibition predicts reward omission leadership and sheds light on what is meant by disinhibition. JEL Classification: D23