THE INFLUENCE OF CORRUPTION ON PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL: THE CASE OF A LARGE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT IN THE MOTHEO DISTRICT, FREE STATE PROVINCE

Abstract

Organisations are continuously exposed to numerous challenges and constraints of which globalisation and global economic turmoil are probably the most pronounced. Globalisation enhances competition and alters the financial and economic landscape of organisations (Pryce-Jones, 2010: 4). The global economic turmoil that characterised the last couple of years has presented a host of workplace dilemmas, including unemployment, job losses, hopelessness, overall pessimism and, most disturbing, increased levels of corruption (Du Plessis & Barkhuizen, 2012: 16). Although corruption occurs globally, it is a serious and persisting challenge in the South African context. Psychological capital, on the other hand, is concerned with the positive behaviour of individuals in the work environment affecting an individual‘s attitude towards work (for example job satisfaction, commitment, absenteeism, tenure and motivation). This can impact on productivity and organisational competitiveness (Zhao & Hou, 2009: 36). Psychological capital consists of four components: hope (an individual‘s capability to construct and change both personal and career goals and the belief that the set goals could be achieved and sustained), resilience (the ability to succeed and prosper even after facing setbacks and hardships), self-efficacy (a belief in one‘s capabilities to achieve a goal or an outcome) and optimism (a mood or attitude associated with an expectation about the social or material future) (Toor & Ofori, 2010: 341). The relationship between corruption and psychological capital is unchallenged in academic literature. A large government department in the Motheo District served as unit of analysis. The study was mostly quantitative and a structured questionnaire was administered to all staff members. One-hundred and fifty (150) questionnaires were collected and used for data analysis. Correlation analysis was used and the main finding of this investigation showed an association between corruption and self-efficacy, as a component of psychological capital. As self-efficacy involves individual convictions, motivations and cognitive resources for successfully completing a job, the findings imply that corruption influences employees‘ convictions about themselves and their abilities to perform at their jobs.