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An Empirical Examination of the Genesis of Psychological Ownership

Author

Listed:
  • Donald G. Gardner

    (Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, USA)

  • Jon L. Pierce

    (Labovitz School of Business and Economics, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN 55812-3002, USA)

  • Feng Lv

    (School of Business, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China)

Abstract

While there are many empirical studies of psychological ownership, there are few that examine the origins of it. Why do people develop feelings of ownership over various entities in their lives? In this investigation we empirically explore the role played by basic psychological needs as motives for the development of job-based psychological ownership. Specifically, we hypothesize that person-job fit is positively related to job-based psychological ownership through three major routes (experienced control, intimate knowing, and/or investment of the self). Further, based on extant theory but not previously studied, we hypothesized that self-identity needs and effectance motivation act as first stage moderators of these mediated relationships. Based on data from 308 employees in China, and employing a time-lagged design, we observed a significant positive relationship between person-job fit and psychological ownership through the three routes. Most of these mediated relationships were moderated by the need for self-identity and effectance motivation, such that the positive effects became stronger as the motivational needs strengthened. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Donald G. Gardner & Jon L. Pierce & Feng Lv, 2022. "An Empirical Examination of the Genesis of Psychological Ownership," Merits, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jmerit:v:3:y:2022:i:1:p:3-50:d:1016317
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Walasek, Lukasz & Matthews, William J & Rakow, Tim, 2015. "The need to belong and the value of belongings: Does ostracism change the subjective value of personal possessions?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 195-204.
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