A reinforcement sensitivity theory view of seeking behaviors at work: A meta‐analysis

Abstract

Scholarship on seeking behaviors, which refer to deliberate attempts to obtain information or assistance from others, has emerged in multiple silos (e.g., feedback‐seeking, information‐seeking, help‐seeking, and advice‐seeking). Furthering recent synthesis attempts, we draw on reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) to generate novel predictions concerning the causes of explicit and implicit seeking behaviors and clarify the inconsistencies between theoretical predictions and empirical findings noted in past reviews. We test our arguments through a meta‐analysis of 393 samples drawn from management and applied psychology research. In doing so, we uncover nuances in the associations between seeking behaviors and work outcomes (e.g., in‐role performance and creativity). We discuss how our theorizing and findings challenge, refine, and extend the existing knowledge concerning seeking behaviors at work, provide methodological and practical recommendations, and identify directions for future research.