Paternalistic Leadership: A Review and Agenda for Future Research

Ekin K. Pellegrini

Terri A. Scandura 

Keywords: Paternalistic Leadership, Culture, Authoritarianism, Benevolence, Organizational Management

The Study: This article provides a comprehensive review of paternalistic leadership, including its definition, antecedents, consequences, and conceptual challenges. Drawing on international evidence, the authors explain how paternalistic leadership blends authoritarian control, discipline, and benevolent care, and is particularly prevalent in collectivistic, high power-distance cultures.

Main Findings: Paternalistic leadership consists of three dimensions — authoritarianism, benevolence, and morality. Benevolence and morality are associated with positive employee outcomes such as trust, satisfaction, commitment, and citizenship behaviors. Conversely, authoritarianism is linked to negative outcomes, including fear and reduced relational quality. Cultural context plays a key role: employees in collectivistic cultures respond more favorably to paternalistic leadership than those in individualistic settings.

Practical Implications: Benevolent forms of paternalistic leadership can enhance commitment and performance, particularly in collectivistic contexts. However, authoritarian elements may undermine these benefits. The authors stress the need for more robust measurement instruments and encourage future research on mediating and moderating mechanisms, as well as longitudinal designs.

Reference: Pellegrini, E. K., & Scandura, T. A. (2008). Paternalistic leadership: A review and agenda for future research. Journal of Management, 34(3), 566–593.

Pellegrini 2008.pdf

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