Question

Cindy's boss thinks she has a lot of potential and he would like to promote her to a much more demanding job with higher pay. Cindy doesn't want the promotion because she doesn't want the increased responsibility. Cindy likes working 9 to 5 and leaving the job behind when she goes home at night. Which core element of expectancy theory does this relate to?

Answer 1

Cindy's reluctance to accept a promotion due to increased responsibility exemplifies the 'valence' element of expectancy theory, revealing how personal values influence the attractiveness of a reward.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cindy's situation, where she is hesitant to accept a promotion due to the increased responsibility it entails, relates to a core element of expectancy theory. Expectancy theory, primarily concerned with motivation, proposes that an individual's motivation to engage in a task is influenced by the expectancy of achieving the desired outcome, the instrumentality of the outcome leading to a reward or desired end-state, and the valence, which is the value the individual places on the reward. In Cindy's case, the relevant element is valence.

Valence refers to the emotional orientations people hold with respect to outcomes [rewards]. It is the extent to which a reward is valued, or not valued, by an individual. Since Cindy values her work-life balance and the ability to leave work behind after 5 PM, the increased salary and status that come with the promotion do not compensate for the loss of her current valued work-life state. Thus, despite the promotion being a positive reinforcement for many, Cindy perceives the associated responsibilities negatively, which detracts from the valence of the promotion for her.