How personality and motivation affect translators’ extra-role behaviors

Abstract This study investigates the role of personality and motivation in shaping Chinese translators’ extra-role behaviors (ERBs) — discretionary and unrewarded actions that contribute to project success — through Self-Determination Theory. Although there is growing interest in translators’ motivation, the motivational underpinnings of translators’ ERBs remain underexplored, particularly in non-Western contexts. To address this gap, we developed and validated an ERB scale through a thematic analysis of 38 interviews and factor analyses of 522 survey responses, identifying conscientiousness, help, and voice as ERB subdimensions. We used partial least squares structural equation modeling to examine how Core Self-Evaluations and motivation profiles affect ERBs, with role perception as a psychological mediator. The results reveal distinct motivational pathways for affiliative and challenging ERBs and offer insights into optimizing incentives for ERB engagement. The study contributes to motivation theory and translation studies by elucidating the psychological mechanisms underlying translators’ ERBs, with implications for training and professional practice.