Theoretical Models of the Antecedents and Consequences of Organizational, Workgroup, and Professional Esprit De Corps

This article formally defines the construct of esprit de corps and develops propositions which explain how it emerges in individuals and impacts on individual and group level behavior. Building from social exchange theory and Jones and James (1979) framework, we propose the premise that an individual can simultaneously develop three different types of esprit de corps: organizational esprit de corps, workgroup esprit de corps, and professional esprit de corps. Propositions that explain how high levels of these types of esprit de corps develop and the consequences they have on an individual's behavior and performance within a group or organization are presented.