Concept Paper
Version 1
Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Examining the pro-self and prosocial components of a calling outlook: A critical review
Version 1
: Received: 29 June 2023 / Approved: 30 June 2023 / Online: 30 June 2023 (12:18:43 CEST)
A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.
Hart, R.; Hart, D. Examining the Pro-Self and Prosocial Components of a Calling Outlook: A Critical Review. Behav. Sci. 2023, 13, 684. Hart, R.; Hart, D. Examining the Pro-Self and Prosocial Components of a Calling Outlook: A Critical Review. Behav. Sci. 2023, 13, 684.
Abstract
Work on callings has burgeoned in the past 20 years, yet recent reviews exposed a lack of conceptual clarity and disagreements around its definition, components and measures. One lingering point of contention revolves around the element of prosociality: Is a calling orientation primarily motivated by self-interest, prosocially orientated, or a mix of both? This conceptual paper reviews and examines the pro-self and prosocial component of a calling outlook, by examining and comparing the ways in which they feature in different calling subtypes: Classic, neoclassic, and modern callings. Our analysis suggests that these subtypes vary in where they are located on a pro-self – prosocial continuum: Classic callings are located on the prosocial side of the axis, modern callings are located on pro-self side of the axis, and neoclassic callings can be situated in the middle of the con-tinuum, integrating self-orientated and other-orientated motivations. Our analysis further suggests that these calling subtypes draw on divergent value systems: Classic callings are propelled by self-transcendent values, modern callings are driven by self-actualization motivations, and neoclassic callings integrate both value systems. We therefore argue that the subjective experiences of pursuing a calling within each subtype pathway differ, alt-hough they may culminate in similar outcomes. The paper offers a novel framework for analyzing people’s calling that draws on their values.
Keywords
Calling; Meaning of Work; Prosociality; Prosocial behaviours; Values
Subject
Business, Economics and Management, Human Resources and Organizations
Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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