The metric exhaustion of the psychological contract

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore epistemic conditions to make a comparative anthropology on contract thinking, regarding what could be defined as normative principles of democracy in organisations. Also to examine the influence of seminal works to contract thinking today, i.e. Psychological contract (Denise M. Rousseau) and Social contract (Jean‐Jacques Rousseau).

Design/methodology/approach

Use of a Seven normative criteria comparative framework discriminating forms of democratic contracts today.

Findings

The paper presents a grid to assess later works on psychological contracts; and criteria defining a “democratic contractualism”.

Research limitations/implications

The paper assesses the initial theory of psychological contracts and its reception from 1995 to 2005.

Originality/value

The paper strengthens the psychological contracts' framework with historical and external comparisons.

Citation

de Rozario, P. (2012), "The metric exhaustion of the psychological contract", Society and Business Review, Vol. 7 No. 1, pp. 65-83. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465681211195797