Psychological science
-
Psychological science · Oct 2010
Company, country, connections: counterfactual origins increase organizational commitment, patriotism, and social investment.
Four studies examined the relationship between counterfactual origins--thoughts about how the beginning of organizations, countries, and social connections might have turned out differently--and increased feelings of commitment to those institutions and connections. Study 1 found that counterfactually reflecting on the origins of one's country increases patriotism. Study 2 extended this finding to organizational commitment and examined the mediating role of poignancy. ⋯ The robust relationship between counterfactual origins and commitment was found across a wide range of companies and countries, with undergraduates and M. B. A. students, and for attitudes and behaviors.