Membership in a Stable Organization can Sustain Individuals’ Sense of Control

Abstract

Based on contemporary perspectives regarding the role that group identification can play in sustaining control motives, we propose that being a member of a stable organization-one experienced as predictable and consistent rather than fragile or in flux-can maintain individuals’ sense of control. Four studies test this prediction (two correlational and two experimental) using diverse samples of working adults. We observe that high social identification with a stable (as compared to relatively unstable) organization is associated with an increased generalized sense of personal efficacy (Study 1 and Study 2). Further, perceived organizational stability moderates the extent to which those who recently experienced a threat to personal control-and are thereby motivated to reestablish feelings of control-seek increased organizational identification (Study 3 and Study 4). Findings suggest that membership in a stable organization can provide a psychological buffer against threats to personal control encountered in...