Examining the Dynamic Relational Effects of “Letting off Steam”: The Co‐Evolution of Workplace Venting and Advice‐Giving Ties
研究职场中员工向特定同事发泄情绪（发泄关系）如何与建言关系共同演化，发现发泄对象更可能成为后续的建言对象，且尽责性会增强这一效应，但过度作为发泄对象会减少建言提供。
ABSTRACT Workplace venting (i.e., expressing frustrations or negative emotions regarding workplace problems) is common and can lead to negative short‐term consequences for ventors or listeners. However, existing research has overlooked the dyadic nature of venting and focused on short‐term reactions, thereby missing potential relational benefits of workplace venting ties (i.e., ongoing relationships where employees regularly seek out preferred listeners for venting). Drawing on social penetration theory and agentic perspectives of network dynamics, we propose a dynamic relational model to theorize how venting networks evolve and co‐evolve with advice‐giving networks through listeners’ choices to form or maintain venting and advice‐giving ties, respectively. We test this model by analyzing three waves of whole‐network data using Stochastic Actor‐Oriented Models (SAOMs). Results reveal that listeners are more likely to form or maintain subsequent venting and advice‐giving ties with their ventors. We also find that actors’ attributes, namely conscientiousness, can alter the co‐evolution process such that its effects are amplified for conscientious ventors but not conscientious listeners. Finally, we identify a potential cost of reduced advice provision when employees are a preferred listener for many coworkers (i.e., central to venting networks). We discuss the value and implications of employing a network approach to studying venting in the workplace.