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Title of thesis: Working for a cause – Studies on identity and emotions in the pursuit of the greater good at work

Doctoral student: Anna Kevätsalo

Opponent: Professor Tina Kiefer, University of Warwick

Custos (Chairperson): Associate Professor Marjo-Riitta Diehl, Aalto University School of Business

This doctoral dissertation examines how individuals experience work when they seek to pursue the greater good through it. In particular, it explores how identity and emotions intertwine with the pursuit of societal causes in one’s work. Understanding this phenomenon is becoming increasingly important, as people expect their work to fulfill aspirations that extend beyond financial or social rewards. Pressing global challenges—such as climate change, rising inequalities, and prolonged conflicts—are reflected in the growing importance younger generations in particular attach to societal engagement through work.

The dissertation is situated at the intersection of organizational behavior and organization theory and includes a review essay extending the concept of the psychological contract to encompass societal purpose, a conceptual essay delving into moral emotions in the aftermath of significant disappointments in the employment relationship, and a qualitative study into the identity work of new Members of the Parliament. The dissertation’s primary contribution lies in highlighting the dual—even paradoxical—nature of striving to create societal impact through one’s work. Positive and negative experiences and emotions coexist when individuals seek to contribute to valued causes: working for the greater good can be both a blessing and a curse.

The dissertation further offers a more nuanced understanding of how emotions and identity interact in the pursuit of valued causes in contemporary work, emphasizing the role of moral emotions such as shame and guilt, alongside pride and gratitude. In addition, it underscores the multidimensional motivations underlying societal contributions, showing that such efforts are driven by both other-oriented and self-oriented dimensions that may coexist. As a practical implication, the dissertation stresses the responsibility of organizations to create conditions that enable individuals to pursue valued causes in their work, while avoiding taking advantage of employees’ willingness to contribute beyond sustainable limits.

Thesis available for public display 10 days prior to the defence at:

Contact information:
anna.kevatsalo@aalto.fi

Doctoral theses in the School of Business: