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The ambivalent dynamics of loyalty in mentorship

York College, City University of New York, oglensky{at}york.cuny.edu

This investigation shows that mentorship loyalty is an ambivalent source of tension in the relationship. Data from in-depth interviews show that the mentoring attachment that is rooted in a protective, devoted, affectionate side of loyalty can also compel conformity, suppress dissent, and curb professional growth. The ambivalence stirred up by loyalty issues manifests itself in the nuts and bolts of ordinary interaction. Consideration about what each party `does' for the other, what they are willing to give up or sacrifice for the other, and what each party comes to expect from the other in return evoke conflicts between strategic, emotional, and normative strivings. Ritualized expressions of loyalty — involving material and emotional work — reflect the asymmetry in the mentor—protégé authority relationship. Implications for mentoring theory and practice are discussed.

Key Words: ambivalence • dialectical approach • emotion work • loyalty • mentorship • ritual

Human Relations, Vol. 61, No. 3, 419-448 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0018726708089000


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