Final answer:
Affective commitment refers to an employee's emotional attachment to, identification with, and involvement in their organization. It's characterized by a personal alignment with the organization's values, contributing to job satisfaction and loyalty. This concept is rooted in the feelings towards the organization rather than costs or obligations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Affective commitment is an employee's emotional attachment to, identification with, and involvement in a particular organization. An employee with a high level of affective commitment strongly identifies with the goals of the organization and feels a sense of belonging within it. This commitment can be seen as an individual's desire to maintain membership in the organization due to a personal alignment with its values and objectives.When discussing the concept of job satisfaction, it encompasses both cognitive and affective aspects, as suggested by researchers like Saari & Judge.
It's influenced by various factors, including the nature of the job, the individual's personality, and the cultural context. Applying the theories of attitudes as proposed by Rosenberg and Hovland, affective commitment is more about the feelings (affective component) towards the organization rather than the costs (behavioral component) or obligation (cognitive component). Thus, the correct characterization of affective commitment is the emotional attachment an employee has towards their workplace.Understanding organizational culture and its impact on job satisfaction is crucial, as it informs the employer's expectations and influences employees' behavior in the workplace. The sense of affective commitment can contribute to an individual's overall job satisfaction and loyalty to the company.