THESIS
2021
1 online resource (x, 167 pages) : illustrations (some color)
Abstract
The narrative understanding of our work worlds can focus our attention on the big picture,
change over time, and identity in the environment. But there is also a dark side to narrative
cognition. Research warns of an association between narrative cognition and
overinterpretation, overconfidence, manipulation, and even decreased performance.
Organizations seeking to attract, hire, place, and retain employees for particular positions
could benefit from understanding the fit and misfit of this cognitive style to different
contexts. Yet relatively little attention has been given to the organizational outcomes of this
important cognitive style in contrast with the more analytical style of cognition. This
dissertation approaches this gap in narrative cognition research in two empirical chapte...[
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The narrative understanding of our work worlds can focus our attention on the big picture,
change over time, and identity in the environment. But there is also a dark side to narrative
cognition. Research warns of an association between narrative cognition and
overinterpretation, overconfidence, manipulation, and even decreased performance.
Organizations seeking to attract, hire, place, and retain employees for particular positions
could benefit from understanding the fit and misfit of this cognitive style to different
contexts. Yet relatively little attention has been given to the organizational outcomes of this
important cognitive style in contrast with the more analytical style of cognition. This
dissertation approaches this gap in narrative cognition research in two empirical chapters.
Chapter 2 questions the possible areas of fit and misfit for narrative thinkers within a variety
of vocations and levels of seniority. In two studies, I find evidence for perceived misfit of
narrative thinkers in STEM vocations and junior level roles and mixed evidence for fit within
vocations focused on interpersonal interactions. Chapter 3 tests the psychological states of
burned out employees by comparing paired survey and text samples. This study finds
significant differences between the theoretically based phenomenon of burnout and its
observed psychological states, including relationships between burnout and narrative
cognition. Overall, this dissertation supports the idea that narrative cognition as contrasted
with analytical cognition is associated with theoretically predicted work roles.
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