The devil without and within: A conceptual model of social cognitive processes whereby discrimination leads stigmatized minorities to become discouraged workers

• Published in: Journal of organizational behavior Vol. 33; no. 6; pp. 840 - 862
• Main Authors: Heslin, Peter A., Bell, Myrtle P., Fletcher, Pinar O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.08.2012; John Wiley & Sons; Wiley Periodicals Inc
• Subjects: African Americans; careers; Discouraged workers; Discrimination; diversity; Employment; Employment discrimination; Gender discrimination; Job hunting; Labor economics; learned helplessness; Minority groups; Organizational behavior; Professional socialization; Role models; Self efficacy; Social cognitive processes; Social discrimination; Social psychology; Socialization; Stigma; Studies; Unemployment
• ISSN: 0894-3796; 1099-1379
• DOI: 10.1002/job.1795

In contrast to the substantial literatures on job loss, underemployment, and re-employment, management scholars have paid scant attention to "discouraged workers," defined as those who want to work but have ceased looking for work because of labor market-related reasons such as discrimination. Drawing together the labor economics category of discouraged workers, the diversity literature on employment discrimination, and social cognitive research on careers, we model social cognitive mechanisms whereby discrimination can lead stigmatized minorities to become discouraged workers. We show how direct effects of discrimination (the "devil without") can be compounded by its indirect impacts—through minority socialization and identity, struggling role models, learned helplessness, and low job search self-efficacy (collectively, the "devil within")—to lead stigmatized minorities to become discouraged workers. Our model of insidious intra- and inter-personal dynamics that can amplify and sustain the demoralization and exclusion that stems from discrimination has implications for researchers, organizations, and those concerned with helping discouraged workers.