research

Sam's research examines workplace mistreatment, destructive leadership, and the hidden harmful dynamics in organizations. Her work focuses particularly on workplace gaslighting, ambiguity in leader–follower relationships, and the cognitive and relational processes through which employees make sense of harmful workplace experiences.

Grounded in an epistemological and ontological pluralist perspective, Sam draws from both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to explore how organizational cultures, leadership dynamics, and interpersonal interactions shape employee well-being and outcomes over time.

Committee Co-Chairs: Dr. Brianna Caza and Dr. Madelynn Stackhouse
Committee Members: Dr. Levi Baker and Dr. Yonghong Liu

This dissertation explores the antecedents, interpretation, and disruption of gaslighting experiences in organizations across three interconnected studies:

• Study 1: Critical incident study examining employee experiences of gaslighting 
• Study 2: Controlled vignette study exploring the antecedents of gaslighting experiences 
• Study 3: Experimental intervention study testing gaslighting disruption

Kincaid, P. A., & Stalion, S. C. O. (2026). An interdisciplinary review of the gaslighting literature and future research agenda. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 1–30.

Stockdale, M., & Stalion, S. C. O. (2025). Advancing sexual and sex-based harassment theory and intervention: A power and threat perspective. In B. Murray, J. Dulebohn, D. Stone, & K. Lukaszewski (Eds.), Research in Human Resource Management: The Future of Human Resource Management. Information Age Publishing.

Stalion, S. C. O., & Stackhouse, M.
Topic: Workplace transgression experiences
Journal: Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

Under initial review

Stackhouse, M., Liu, Y., Stalion, S. C. O., & Belew, E.
Topic: Destructive leadership
Journal: Behavioral Sciences
1st round R&R

McAnally, E., Belew, E., Stalion, S. C. O., & Stackhouse, M.
Scope: Qualitative methods in international business
Target journal: Journal of International Business Studies
Editing stage

Stalion, S. C. O., & Kincaid, P.
Scope: Gaslighting theory manuscript
Target journal: Academy of Management Review
Editing stage

Stackhouse, M., & Stalion, S. C. O.
Scope: Meta-analysis on workplace mistreatment
Target journal: Journal of Applied Psychology
Data collection stage

Stalion, S. C. O.
Scope: Quantitative study on gaslighting and cultural intelligence
Target journal: Journal of Applied Psychology
Study design

Academy of Management Annual Meeting

• Stalion, S. C. O. (2025). Toxic leaders at work: Towards a novel NARC-attachment theory of workplace gaslighting. Copenhagen, Denmark. 
• Meng, X., & Stalion, S. C. O. (2025). Gaslighting in organizations: Theoretical foundations and empirical explorations. Symposium co-organizer. Copenhagen, Denmark. 
• Stalion, S. C. O., & Stackhouse, M. (2025). Performers & predators: A qualitative analysis of workplace power dynamics through victim narratives. Copenhagen, Denmark. 

Southern Management Association Annual Meeting

• Stalion, S. C. O. (2025). Mind the legitimacy gap: Contextualizing pay transparency through a replication study. Greenville, SC. 
• Belew, E., Stalion, S. C. O., & Stackhouse, M. (2025). Multilevel qualitative research in International Business: A review and typological framework of contextualization. Greenville, SC. 
• Stalion, S. C. O. (2024). “Then, just quit!”: An integrative review of the dyadic and relational nature of workplace gaslighting. San Antonio, TX.

• UNCG Bryan School of Business & Economics Travel Fund ($400), 2026 
• Beverly Cooper Moore & Irene Mitchell Moore Scholarship Recipient ($6,000), 2026 
• UNCG Relational Ethics Lab Research Grant ($1,000), 2026 
• Academy of Management Organizational Behavior Division Best Reviewer Award, 2025 
• UNCG Bryan School of Business & Economics Research Fund ($1,000), 2025 
• UNCG Bryan School of Business & Economics Travel Fund ($500), 2024 
• UNCG Bryan School of Business & Economics Travel Fund ($250), 2023 
• IUPUI Sherry Queener Graduate Student Excellence Award Nominee, 2022 
• Pride of CASE District V Silver Award for Best Internal Audience Tabloid/Newsletter, 2016