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Abstract
Counterproductive work behavior (CWB) is related to critical personal and organizational consequences and, further, is an important component of overall job performance. Thus, both researchers and practitioners are interested in better understanding antecedents of CWB. Despite popular theoretical support for general mental ability (GMA) as an antecedent of CWB, empirical evidence does not generally support a GMA-CWB relationship. In this study, I propose that one reason the GMA-CWB relationship has not seen strong empirical support is that the commonly proposed inhibitory effect of GMA on CWB is more appropriately interpreted as an interaction between GMA and other critical antecedents. Three personality traits have been consistently shown to predict CWB: conscientiousness, agreeableness, and emotional stability. Thus, I propose that the meta-trait that subsumes these three traits–stability–is one such critical antecedent of CWB. I hypothesize that GMA moderates the stability-CWB relationship such that the relationship is strongest at low levels of GMA. Results support the hypothesis across two studies. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.