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

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Abstract

Social contract theory has been criticized as a “theory in search of application.” 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.

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Correspondence to Jeffery A. Thompson.

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Jeffery A. Thompson is an assistant professor of public management at the Romney Institute of Public Management at the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University. He received his PhD from the University of Minnesota. His current research focuses on employee expression of personal values through work, employees’ psychological contracts, and organizational ethics.

David W. Hart received his PhD from the State University of New York at Albany. He is currently an assistant professor of public management in the Romney Institute of Public Management at the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University. His current research focuses on both theoritical and applied ethics, business-government interaction, and the external environment of organizations.

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Thompson, J.A., Hart, D.W. Psychological Contracts: A Nano-Level Perspective on Social Contract Theory. J Bus Ethics 68, 229–241 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9012-x

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