Congruence and Clash of Scientific and Spiritual Identities: Consequences for Scientists, Organizations, and Organizational Leadership

Abstract

The foci of this paper are the implications of the relationship between scientific identities and spiritual identities for individual and collective affect and, through them, individual and organizational processes and outcomes. Attachment to and involvement with science (and closely allied disciplines such as engineering) are both driven by and impact individuals' identities (Jackson, 1987; Pacey, 1983; Reich, 2000). Spirituality also both unfolds from, and influences, identity (Fry, in press; Gorsuch, 1988; Mael and Ashforth, 2001). Scientific and spiritual identities can fit together harmoniously; can be essentially independent and neutral in how their relationship impacts affective and organizational outcomes, or can be discrepant. The match of the two types of identity depends on their specific contents, their internal strength, surrounding events and contexts, and the nature of other identities that either they or situations evoke (James, 2000; Mael and Ashforth, 2001). Affective processes and reactions seem to mediate both the impact of organizations on the relationship between the two types of identities, and to mediate the effects of that relationship on individual and organizational outcomes. This study presents models of how and why scientific and spiritual identities fit or fail to fit together and discusses the models and their implications for scientists, their organizations, and society. The ideas outlined above are supported with citations from the literature, with archival information about some historical scientists and information from interviews with scientists.