Unpacking the Mechanism by Which Psychological Ownership Manifests at the Level of the Individual: A Dynamic Model of Identity and Self

Abstract

Increasing prominence of the psychological ownership (PO) construct in management studies raises questions about how PO manifests at the level of the individual. In this article, we unpack the mechanism by which individuals use PO to express aspects of their identity and explore how PO manifestations can display congruence as well as incongruence between layers of self. As a conceptual foundation, we develop a dynamic model of individual identity that differentiates between four layers of self, namely, the “core self,” “learned self,” “lived self,” and “perceived self.” We then bring identity and PO literatures together to suggest a framework of PO manifestation and expression viewed through the lens of the four presented layers of self. In exploring our framework, we develop a number of propositions that lay the foundation for future empirical and conceptual work and discuss implications for theory and practice.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carola Hillenbrand

Carola Hillenbrand (Ph.D., Brunel University), Professor of Organisational Psychology, John Madejski Centre for Reputation, Henley Business School, University of Reading, U.K., [email protected].

Kevin Guy Money

Kevin Guy Money (Ph.D., Brunel University), Professor of Organisational Reputation and Responsible Leadership, John Madejski Centre for Reputation, Henley Business School, University of Reading, U.K., [email protected].