Organizational commitment and psychological attachment: The effects of compliance, identification, and internalization on prosocial behavior.

Conducted 2 studies with 82 nonfaculty university employees (mean age 31–40 yrs) and 162 graduating business students at the undergraduate and MBA level to investigate relations among the dimensions of commitment and prescribed and extrarole activities. Survey findings suggest that psychological attachment may be predicated on compliance (instrumental involvement for specific extrinsic rewards), identification (involvement based on a desire for affiliation), and internalization (involvement resulting from congruence between individual and organizational values). Identification and internalization were positively related to prosocial behaviors and negatively related to turnover. Internalization was predictive of financial donations to a fund-raising campaign. Overall, the results indicate the importance of clearly specifying the underlying dimensions of commitment using notions of psychological attachment and the various forms such attachment can take. (48 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)