Idealism, Disillusionment, and Cynicism in Response to Values (In)Congruences in U.K. Nonprofit Organizations: An Exploratory Study

I present the findings of an exploratory qualitative enquiry into how employees in U.K.-based nonprofit organizations with clearly espoused organizational values experience (in)congruences. Participants tended to adopt one three positions—idealism, disillusionment, or cynicism—which they may transition between at different times. use theoretical lenses ideological psychological contract, identification, and cynicism interpret these employees’ experiences. These data show contract identification processes are entwined as fluidly navigate (in)congruence nonprofits. This analysis supports a critical reading cynicism, demonstrating can be experienced form managerial control, against which wish defend their selfhood. Several directions for future research indicated.