Originally found at Phys.org

Leaders across industries, from telecommunications to sports, love to craft a come-from-behind image to ignite those inspirational hard-scrabble stories where the little guy wins by beating the odds.

Those narratives can become a team's collective identity. For instance, Philadelphia Eagles players embodied the underdog persona by wearing dog masks during their historic run to victory over the perennial "big dogs," the New England Patriots, in Super Bowl LII.

Does the us-versus-them mentality make team members believe they are being treated unfairly and thus, push them to take more risks or cut corners? Does buying into the underdog identity give workers a higher goal and create a greater sense of well-being?

Continue reading the original article at Phys.org.

Read the original research in  Academy of Management Review.

Read the Academy of Management Insights summary.

Learn more about the AOM Scholar and explore their work:

• Logan M. Steele, University of South Florida
• Jeffrey B. Lovelace, University of Virginia