Inspire or stifle innovation behavior? Exploring bystanders’ differential responses to the leader aggressive humor

Purpose Based on the cognitive appraisal theory of stress, this study reveals the mechanisms by which leader aggressive humor affects bystander innovation behavior through two different pathways, namely bystander challenge appraisal and bystander threat appraisal. The moderation effect of bystander perspective taking on both pathways was also explored. Design/methodology/approach In this study, 388 employees and their direct leaders from seven Chinese companies were investigated in a paired survey at three time points, and the empirical data were analyzed using Mplus 7.4 software. Findings Leader aggressive humor triggers bystanders to develop challenge appraisal, which promotes the display of more innovation behavior. At the same time, leader aggressive humor also leads to bystander threat appraisal, which reduces the frequency of innovation behavior. In addition, this study finds that bystander perspective taking has a moderation effect on how leader aggressive humor affects bystander challenge appraisal and bystander threat appraisal. Originality/value Starting from the bystander perspective, this study verifies the double-edged sword effect of leader aggressive humor on bystander innovation behavior, as well as the mechanism of differential action through cognitive evaluation, which broadens the scope of research on aggressive humor and deepens the academic understanding and development of the cognitive assessment theory of stress. Meanwhile, it also provides new ideas for reducing the negative effects of aggressive humor in the workplace.