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Psychological Contracts: A Nano-Level Perspective on Social Contract Theory

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  • Jeffery Thompson
  • David Hart

Abstract

Social contract theory has been criticized as a “theory in search of application.â€\x9D We argue that incorporating the nano, or individual, level of analysis into social contract inquiry will yield more descriptive theory. We draw upon the psychological contract perspective to address two critiques of social contract theory: its rigid macro-orientation and inattention to the process of contract formation. We demonstrate how a psychological contract approach offers practical insight into the impact of social contracting on day-to-day human interaction. We then articulate several potentially testable propositions that emerge from this nano-level perspective. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffery Thompson & David Hart, 2006. "Psychological Contracts: A Nano-Level Perspective on Social Contract Theory," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 68(3), pages 229-241, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:68:y:2006:i:3:p:229-241
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-006-9012-x
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    1. Near, Janet P. & Rehg, Michael T. & Van Scotter, James R. & Miceli, Marcia P., 2004. "Does Type of Wrongdoing Affect the Whistle-Blowing Process?," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(2), pages 219-242, April.
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    1. Anna Rogozińska-Pawełczyk & Katarzyna Gadomska-Lila, 2022. "The Mediating Role of Organisational Identification between Psychological Contract and Work Results: An Individual Level Investigation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-20, April.
    2. Schweizer, Roger & Vahlne, Jan-Erik, 2022. "Non-linear internationalization and the Uppsala model – On the importance of individuals," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 583-592.
    3. Omar S. Itani & Fernando Jaramillo & Larry Chonko, 2019. "Achieving Top Performance While Building Collegiality in Sales: It All Starts with Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(2), pages 417-438, May.
    4. Brian D. Knox, 2020. "Employee Volunteer Programs are Associated with Firm-Level Benefits and CEO Incentives: Data on the Ethical Dilemma of Corporate Social Responsibility Activities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(2), pages 449-472, March.
    5. Kirsten Martin, 2012. "Diminished or Just Different? A Factorial Vignette Study of Privacy as a Social Contract," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 111(4), pages 519-539, December.
    6. Anna Rogozinska-Pawelczyk, 2016. "The Influence of Selected Factors on the Formation of Psychological Contract in Organizations (Wplyw wybranych czynnikow na formowanie kontraktu psychologicznego w organizacji)," Problemy Zarzadzania, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 14(59), pages 103-117.
    7. Ndubisi, Nelson Oly & Nataraajan, Rajan & Lai, Rebecca, 2014. "Customer perception and response to ethical norms in legal services marketing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 369-377.
    8. Mark Gosling & Heh Huang, 2009. "The Fit Between Integrity and Integrative Social Contracts Theory," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 90(3), pages 407-417, December.
    9. Rothengatter, Marloes, 2016. "Insights in cognitive patterns : Essays on heuristics and identification," Other publications TiSEM 5f812a9d-8968-48b8-8d1b-0, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    10. Sarah Sanders Smith & Ray Peters & Cam Caldwell, 2016. "Creating a Culture of Engagement -- Insights for Application," Business and Management Research, Business and Management Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 5(2), pages 70-80, June.
    11. Kirsten Martin, 2016. "Understanding Privacy Online: Development of a Social Contract Approach to Privacy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 137(3), pages 551-569, September.
    12. Frances Chua & Asheq Rahman, 2011. "Institutional Pressures and Ethical Reckoning by Business Corporations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 98(2), pages 307-329, January.
    13. Rahul Nilakantan & Deepak Iyengar & Samar K. Datta & Shashank Rao, 2021. "On Ethical Violations in Microfinance Backed Small Businesses: Family and Household Welfare," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 172(4), pages 785-802, September.
    14. Jan-Erik Vahlne & Roger Schweizer, 2022. "Human behavior and judgment: A critical nano-foundation for the Uppsala model and international business studies," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(7), pages 1549-1555, September.
    15. Jie Feng & Yucheng Zhang & Xinmei Liu & Long Zhang & Xiao Han, 2018. "Just the Right Amount of Ethics Inspires Creativity: A Cross-Level Investigation of Ethical Leadership, Intrinsic Motivation, and Employee Creativity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(3), pages 645-658, December.
    16. Mazur Karolina, 2012. "The dynamics of psychological contract between employee and organization. The analysis of selected factors," Management, Sciendo, vol. 16(1), pages 51-64, May.

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