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Interpersonal Relationships and the Self-Concept pp 195–208Cite as

Self-concept Change at Work: Characteristics and Consequences of Workplace Self-expansion

Abstract

Self-expansion is generally studied in the context of romantic relationships; however, self-expansion can also occur in a variety of non-relational settings. This chapter explores the opportunities for workplaces to promote self-expansion. People may experience self-expansion at work when their jobs provide them with novel experiences, challenges, resources, new skills, and new identities as organizational contributors. Recent evidence confirms that individuals experience workplace self-expansion and that workplace self-expansion is associated with a variety of beneficial outcomes for employees and organizations such as higher job satisfaction, commitment, engagement, and lower burnout and turnover intentions. Overall, this research suggests that workplace self-expansion may be an important component of employees’ experiences and leaders’ effectiveness.

Keywords

  • Self-expansion
  • Workplace
  • Leadership
  • Job satisfaction
  • Organizational commitment
  • Turnover intentions
  • Burnout
  • Work engagement

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Most often, workplace self-expansion is measured with the 14-item Workplace Self-Expansion Questionnaire (WSEQ; McIntyre et al., 2014); sample items include “How much do you feel that you have a larger perspective on things because of your job?” and “How much does working at your job result in your having new experiences?”

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Cheryl E. Gray

  2. Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Kevin P. McIntyre

  3. Department of Psychology, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, USA

    Brent A. Mattingly

  4. Department of Psychology, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ, USA

    Gary W. Lewandowski Jr.

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  1. Cheryl E. Gray
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  2. Kevin P. McIntyre
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  4. Gary W. Lewandowski Jr.
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Correspondence to Cheryl E. Gray .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, USA

    Brent A. Mattingly

  2. Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Kevin P. McIntyre

  3. Department of Psychology, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ, USA

    Gary W. Lewandowski, Jr.

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Gray, C.E., McIntyre, K.P., Mattingly, B.A., Lewandowski, G.W. (2020). Self-concept Change at Work: Characteristics and Consequences of Workplace Self-expansion. In: Mattingly, B., McIntyre, K., Lewandowski, Jr., G. (eds) Interpersonal Relationships and the Self-Concept. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43747-3_12

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