AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR AND EMPLOYEE ALIENATION IN COMMERCIAL BANKS IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Aluko, O. E.

Department of Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Rivers State University,

Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Oparanma, A. O.

Department of Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Rivers State University,

Port Harcourt, Nigeria

and

Wechie, I.

Department of Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Rivers State University,

Port Harcourt, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study examined the relationship between aggressive behaviour and employee alienation in commercial banks in Rivers State, Nigeria. The social exchange theory was adopted as the theoretical foundations in the study. It adopted the cross-sectional survey design. The study populations were 687 permanent employees from nineteen commercial banks in Rivers state. A sample size of 248 was drawn using Krejcie & Morgan table on sample size determination. 248 copies of questionnaires were personally administered to respondents out of which 218 representing 88% were found valid for the analysis. All items on the questionnaire had a Cronbach Alpha threshold of 0.7 and above in the reliability test. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient computed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for bivariate analyses. The results showed significant relationship between aggressive behaviour and measures of employee alienation (powerlessness meaninglessness and self-estrangement). This study concludes that the existence of aggressive behaviour in the workplace negatively influences employees’ experience, relationship and perception of others in their organisation leading to their feeling of alienation. The study therefore recommends that the management of banks should institute or develop policies that sufficiently regulate behaviour and actions that tilt toward aggression in the organisation from supervisors and co-workers ensuring that employees are protected and safeguarded against threats and abuse in the organisation. 

Keywords: Aggressive Behaviour, Social Exchange Theory, Employee Alienation, powerlessness, meaninglessness, self-estrangement.