Extending the Psychology of the Psychological Contract

Abstract

This article is in response to Meckler, Drake, and Levinson's essay regarding returning research on the psychological contract to its clinical roots. Although not disagreeing with the value of a clinical perspective to understanding the dynamics of psychological contracts, such an approach would make only limited use of psychology's potential contribution to this research stream. The present article argues instead for expanded consideration of an array of psychological processes in psychological contract research. In particular, it focuses upon the value of greater attention to schema formation, maintenance and change, and the dynamics of mutuality and agreement in understanding psychological contracts in organizations.