Category: Organizational Psychology

Literature Review: The Influence of Culture on Individual Conformity to Normative Group Behavior

Culture exerts a profound influence on human behavior, shaping how individuals perceive themselves, relate to others, and act in social contexts. Defined as the shared values, norms, beliefs, and behaviors within a group, culture serves as a regulatory force that guides individuals toward conformity with group expectations (Gelfand, Nishii, & Raver, 2006). This section reviews empirical and theoretical research from the past two decades that demonstrates how cultural norms influence individual conformity and explores the psychological and social difficulties associated with resisting such influence.

Semantic Coverage of Positive Conscious States: A Comprehensive Framework Using Six Core Values

The Research Behind VP Culture’s Six Core Values, An Introduction

Abstract
This study proposes and evaluates a framework to describe the semantic sphere of positive conscious states through six core values: Trust, Harmony, Peace, Wisdom, Nobility, and Joy. These values are further detailed through sub-values, representing distinct dimensions of desirable human experiences. Using word embeddings and clustering techniques, semantic ranges for each value were calculated and normalized to assess their coverage of the positive semantic space.

Harvard’s Guide to Boosting Emotional Intelligence: 3 Research-Backed Exercises

The article by Emma Seppälä outlines three exercises to enhance emotional intelligence. These exercises focus on self-awareness, self-regulation, and fostering positive connections. The first exercise involves assessing bodily sensations, cognitive load, and emotional states. The second exercise emphasizes strategic breathing to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce stress. The third exercise encourages authentic acts of kindness and understanding to build positive relationships. These practices aim to help individuals manage negative emotions, improve relationships,

Why the UWES is a Great Tool for Measuring Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is a key factor for organizational success, as it reflects the degree to which employees are committed, motivated and involved in their work. However, measuring employee engagement is not an easy task, as different definitions and instruments exist in the literature. One of the most widely used and validated tools for assessing employee engagement is the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), developed by Schaufeli and colleagues (2002). In this article, I will describe why the UWES is a great tool for employers to use to measure employee engagement,

A Culture’s Journey to Valuing People

Each of us asks the question, “Am I loved?” And when we come together into cultures, we seek to answer this question in the faces, actions and words of others. We collectively in cultures seek to answer this question.

Peaceful Pandemic? How to Pivot Your Culture Towards Hope in Crisis

Psychological flexibility is about facing reality well, not painting a happy face on it. It’s about igniting the deep values that truly make us who we are. More than just bringing comfort in tough times, these techniques have been used to transform workplace cultures into positive, productive communities.