Can the interplay of calling diminish the negative effects of the fear of terrorism? Recent evidence from Pakistan

Purpose This study aims to use a multitheory framework to examine the impact of police officials’ fear of terrorism on their perceptions of organizational politics, taking into account various psychological and personal factors. Design/methodology/approach Data collected from 130 Pakistani police officials were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling. Findings Police officials’ fear of terrorism is found to have a positive association with their perceptions of organizational politics, both directly and indirectly through their psychological stress. In addition, calling is found to have interplayed with police officials’ fear of terrorism to curb their tendency to organizational politics. Originality/value This study looks at how different theories, like the conservation of resources theory, terror management theory and event systems theory, work together to explain how terrorism threats from outside the organization affect police officials’ behaviors. The results provide valuable insights for managing police organizations, indicating the necessity of establishing psychological support systems and cultivating a sense of purpose among police officials to alleviate stress and political perceptions, thereby improving both operational effectiveness and overall well-being.