Ethical approaches to leadership in organizational contexts: An attachment theory perspective

Ethical approaches to leadership in organizational contexts have been linked to a wide range of positive outcomes for both organizations and their followers. The primary thesis of this paper is that insights gleaned from attachment theory shed light on the evolutionary and developmental origins, emergence and occurrence of ethical approaches to leadership in organizational contexts. Based on an extensive literature review, we identify important conceptual advances that provide insights into how attachment-based relational models contribute to the emergence and development of antecedents and core-themes of ethical approaches to leadership. Furthermore, we outline theoretical connections, present our rationale for the suggested relationships, and develop meaningful propositions useful for future empirical investigations. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. This work allows us to consider how organizations and human resource management programs can proactively address and support the needs of the new “attachment -insecure” era of organizational workers in a way that positively affects organizational outcomes. • Utilizes a unified attachment-theory based framework to explain the emergence of ethical approaches leadership. • Explains how attachment-theory links with aspects and antecedents of ethical leadership within the workplace context. • Considers how organizations and human resource management programs can proactively address and support the needs of the new “attachment -insecure” era of organizational workers. • Develops meaningful propositions useful for future empirical investigations.