DSST Organizational Behavior Practice Exam 2025 - Free Organizational Behavior Practice Questions and Study Guide

Normative commitment is characterized by an employee's feelings of obligation to remain with an organization due to social norms, personal values, or a sense of loyalty. This type of commitment often arises from the influence of colleagues and the workplace culture; employees may feel compelled to stay because they believe it is the right thing to do or because they fear letting their colleagues down. Normative commitment can stem from relationships within the organization, such as friendships or shared experiences, which reinforces the idea that staying is not just beneficial for oneself, but also for the team or the organization as a whole.

In contrast, continuance commitment is based on the perceived costs associated with leaving the organization, affective commitment is driven by emotional attachment and the desire to stay because of a strong connection to the organization, and transactional commitment refers to a more mechanical relationship based on exchanges and short-term agreements. Thus, while the opinions and influence of colleagues can certainly reinforce emotional and normative factors, normative commitment is the one that aligns directly with the social obligations and expectations stemming from workplace relationships.