Organizational identification and organizational commitment: Distinct aspects of two related concepts

The conceptual differences between organizational commitment and identification are discussed theoretically and examined empirically. The present study is based on data of 450 employees of five different organizations in Nepal. A revised eight-item scale was designed out of Cheney's Organizational Identification Questionnaire to assess the core aspects of organizational identification. In confirmatory factor analyses, identification was found to be distinguishable from four related commitment concepts (i.e. affective, continuance, normative, and attitudinal commitment).     

Jealousy: a response to infidelity? On the nature and appropriateness conditions of jealousy

This paper critically assesses the widespread claim that jealousy is a response to infidelity. According to this claim, herewith called the entitlement theory (ET), jealousy is only an appropriate response to a relationship between a loved one and a rival if, by entertaining this relationship, the loved one does not treat the jealous person the way she is entitled to be treated. I reconstruct different versions of ET, each of them providing a different answer to the question why we should assume that jealousy is a response to infidelity. I show that even the most plausible versions enjoy less argumentative support than it seems at first sight. The positive aim of this paper is to present a more inclusive account of jealousy as an alternative to ET. According to this account, jealousy serves to disturb the rival relationship and to (re-)gain the attention and affection of the loved person. Jealousy so understood is not only an appropriate response to infidelity but has wider appropriateness conditions. However, it plays a role in the negotiation of norms concerning exclusivity in personal relationships. The inclusive account does justice to the continuity and commonalities between adult and infant protest against rival relationships.     

Can harmful intergroup behaviors truly represent the self?: The impact of harmful and prosocial normative behaviors on intra-individual conflict and compartmentalization

This research investigates how group members subjectively feel about their prosocial vs. harmful intergroup behaviors, and whether these behaviors can represent who they are more globally as a person. Three experiments tested how group norms (pro-merit/parity vs. pro-discrimination) and congruence with these norms predicted compartmentalization of these intergroup behaviors in the self and intra-individual conflict. Experiment 1 (N = 122) revealed that participants who conformed to a pro-discrimination norm reported compartmentalizing this behavior to a greater extent than participants who conformed to a pro-merit norm. Experiments 2 (N = 149) and 3 (N = 222) replicated and extended these findings in real and conflictual intergroup settings, also over and above the effect of relevant superordinate norms. Mediated moderation analyses also revealed that following discriminatory norms was associated with more intra-individual conflict, and that this conflict in turn predicted higher compartmentalization.     

Normative beliefs supporting aggression of Arab children in an intergroup conflict

Based on the social knowledge theory (Heusmann), this study investigated normative beliefs supporting aggression (NOBAG), empathy, and intergroup anxiety of Arab children in Israel. The study proposed that ethnicity of the target person (within subject variable) and participant's sex (between subject variable) will differ between respondents' level of NOBAG and empathy: Higher NOBAG and lower empathy toward an outgroup member were expected. Sex differences were expected on all variables, as well as intercorrelations among them. Measures included the Revised Normative Beliefs Measure (NOBAG: general and specific), The Index of Empathy for Children and Adolescents (general and specific), and the Intergroup Anxiety Scale. The study population included 186 elementary‐school children from two Arab schools in Israel. Results indicated that all participants support an aggressive reaction to a child of an outgroup more than to one of their own group and exhibit a greater degree of empathy toward the latter. Sex differences were found on all variables except on specific NOBAG. Correlation coefficients suggest sex differences in relations between variables. Results of a Logistic regression for the prediction of NOBAG toward ingroup/outgroup person indicated that empathy toward Jews predicted NOBAG in both sexes while intergroup anxiety predicted NOBAG in a different way for boys and girls. The discussion refers to the need for peace education to reduce anxiety and promote empathy. Aggr. Behav. 00:000–000, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

From beliefs to behavior: the mediating role of hostile response selection in predicting aggression

This study evaluated the complementary roles that aggressive normative beliefs and hostile response selections play in predicting adolescents' aggressive behavior. Self‐, peer‐, and teacher‐reported data were collected from 2003 young adolescents from a variety of ethnic backgrounds (Black, Latino, Asian, White) during the fall of their sixth grade year to test the hypothesis that adolescents' hostile response selections mediate the association between their normative beliefs and aggressive reputations among their peers and teachers. Structural equation modeling analyses supported our hypothesis, and the model was found to be consistent across both gender and ethnicity. The results suggest that even though gender and ethnic differences in average levels of aggressive cognitions and behavior exist, the general process linking cognitions and behaviors is the same for all young adolescents. Aggr. Behav. 00:1–20, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Strategic Maneuvering through Persuasive Definitions: Implications for Dialectic and Rhetoric

Persuasive definitions – those that convey an attitude in the act of naming – are frequently employed in discourse and are a form of strategic maneuvering. The dynamics of persuasive definition are explored through brief case studies and an extended analysis of the use of the “war” metaphor in responding to terrorism after September 11, 2001. Examining persuasive definitions enables us to notice similarities and differences between strategic maneuvering in dialectical and in rhetorical argument, as well as differences between the role of strategic maneuvering in normatively ideal argument and in actually existing argument. This will avoid the double standard of comparing ideal dialectic with actual rhetoric, or vice versa. The results of the analysis suggest possibilities for a rapprochement between dialectical and rhetorical approaches to argumentation.     

Identity configurations and well-being during normative cultural conflict: The roles of multiculturals’ conflict management strategies and academic stage

Multiculturals encounter normative cultural conflicts (intrapersonal conflicts between their cultures’ norms). Yet, no research has examined how these conflicts are managed, nor their antecedents and repercussions. This article examined how these conflicts are managed using two sets of conflict management strategies (active and agreeable) and tested whether they mediate the associations between identity configurations and well-being. Also, as the benefits of having integrated selves typically increase in later life stages, this article examined whether the associations between identity configurations and well-being differ between earlier (pre-university) and later academic stages (university). In Study 1 (N = 235), active strategies mediated the link between identity integration and well-being, whereas agreeable strategies mediated the link between compartmentalization and ill-being. In Study 2 (N = 241), these results were replicated. Study 2 further showed that the association between identity integration and well-being was stronger among university than pre-university students. Implications of these results are discussed.     

The high-performance work system and commitment of the Portuguese Navy personnel

This study evaluates the relationship between the high-performance work system (HPWS) as perceived by the Portuguese Navy military and their affective (AC), normative (NC), and continuance commitment (CC). The sample is representative and composed of 1,003 individuals (officers, warrant/petty officers, and seamen—as a reference, these last two categories are called ratings in the British Royal Navy, and enlisted in the United States Navy) from different naval units. A structural models analysis was carried out, and the results showed, as expected, that the perception of an HPWS was positively related to the commitment of the military personnel, in both its affective and normative dimensions. Nevertheless, contrary to our expectations, we also observed that the perception of an HPWS was positively related to the continuance commitment as well. On the other hand, we examined the moderator role played by the professional category—the relationship between the perception of the HPWS and the AC was stronger in commissioned officers and seamen than in warrant and petty officers—and by the contractual relationship. In the latter, the relationship between the HPWS and the AC and the CC was stronger in the individuals having a fixed-term contract than in those with a permanent position. The theoretical and practical implications of these results will be discussed.     

东西方文化的人性观差异及其对道德认知的影响

人性观,即认为人性究竟是本善的还是本恶的,不仅是哲学思辨的焦点,也是日常生活中形成的一种常人理论(lay theory)。对于东西方文化传统的检视表明,西方文化占主导地位的是性恶论人性观,东方文化占主导地位的则是性善论人性观。研究通过实证数据支持了这一结论,发现中国被试相对于美国被试,对于人性的主观评定更倾向于性善的一端(研究1)。这种人性观差异导致中国被试在道德方面,尤其是规范性道德(行善)方面,对人提出了更高的要求(研究1),并且这种因果关系得到了启动实验的支持(研究2)。这些研究结果有助于人们更好地理解文化如何塑造了人们对于人性和道德的看法。     

Misperceptions of opposite-sex preferences for thinness and muscularity

Thin and muscular have been characterized as ideals for women and men, respectively. Little research has investigated whether men and women have accurate perceptions of opposite-sex preferences of thinness and muscularity. Further, no study has explored whether opposite-sex perceptions of thinness and muscularity preferences differ for short-term and long-term relationships. The present study set out to address these questions. We used interactive 3D human models to represent bodies varying in size (body mass index/BMI weight scaled by height) and body composition. University-aged (18–31) White European heterosexual men and women were asked to choose their own and ideal body shape, the ideal body shape for a short- and a long-term partner, and the body shape they thought the opposite-sex would most like for short- and long-term partners. Women overestimated the thinness that men prefer in a partner and men overestimated the heaviness and muscularity that women prefer in a partner. These misperceptions were more exaggerated for short-term relationships than for long-term relationships. The results illustrate the importance of investigating misperceptions of opposite-sex preferences and raise the possibility that correcting misperceptions might have utility in reducing body dissatisfaction or eating disorders.