Normal and Derailing Personality Predictors of Counterproductive Work Behaviors

Counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) pose substantial costs to organizations, and personality characteristics influence employees’ propensity to engage in them. This study used relative weight analysis to examine the contributions of normal-range (Hogan Personality Inventory; HPI) and derailing (Hogan Development Survey; HDS) characteristics in predicting 11 forms of CWBs. HDS scales, particularly Colorful, Mischievous, and Leisurely, were consistently the strongest predictors of overt misconduct and interpersonal deviance, while low HPI Adjustment, Prudence, and Ambition were more predictive of performance-related CWBs such as poor work quality, absenteeism, and misuse of time. Across outcomes, scores on the HDS generally explained a greater proportion of variance than those on the HPI, emphasizing the importance of maladaptive characteristics in workplace misconduct. These findings suggest that integrating both types of assessment offers a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of CWBs and provides practical insight for organizations aiming to identify and mitigate risks associated with employee misconduct.