Embedding Roles & Social Identities during Socialization: An Intrapersonal Network Perspective

Abstract

We propose theory to explain how newcomers’ new organizational roles and social identities become embedded. Identity embeddedness is indicated by: degree centrality in the intrapersonal identity harmony network, perceived harmony with the network itself, and the perceived cost of lacking harmony with a focal identity. Newcomers are likely to be more satisfied and engaged with identities with greater embeddedness as well as find such identities to be more salient. The process of embedding identities is influenced by how an individual’s preexisting identities interact with new organizational identities during socialization. To explain these interactions, we clarify the construct of identity harmony from a network perspective. Organizations can work to embed their employees’ new identities through initiating identity work directed towards increasing harmony perceptions among the newcomers’ new organizational identities and preexisting identities. Through helping individuals create harmony relationships among identities, organizations can improve socialization outcomes while actively participating in newcomers’ self-narratives.