Exploring the foundational origins of public service motivation through the lens of behavioral genetics

Christoffer Florczak; Stig Hebbelstrup Rye Rasmussen; Ulrich Thy Jensen; Justin Michael Stritch; Kaare Christensen; Asbjørn Sonne Nørgaard; Robert Klemmensen

doi:10.1111/padm.12837

Exploring the foundational origins of public service motivation through the lens of behavioral genetics

Christoffer Florczak^*, Stig Hebbelstrup Rye Rasmussen, Ulrich Thy Jensen, Justin Michael Stritch, Kaare Christensen, Asbjørn Sonne Nørgaard, Robert Klemmensen

^*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Institut for Statskundskab

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

14 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Despite the proliferation of research on public service motivation (PSM), fundamental questions about its origins continue to evade scholars: Is PSM driven by genetics, socialized through experiences, or both? If PSM is socialized, when does socialization occur? Answering these questions is critical for reconciling the state vs trait debate, and for assessing the validity of practical implications prescribed by PSM studies. Utilizing “nature's own experiment”, we adopt a classical twin-design with 1035 twin pairs to identify how genetic heritability, a common environment, or unique environment and experiences can explain variation in PSM. Results show that PSM is heavily influenced by individuals' unique environments and experiences; not by genetics. This lends strong evidence to PSM's uniqueness as a motivational construct as related “other-regarding” concepts show sizeable genetic components. Finally, our results corroborate that PSM is a human resource with dynamic properties organizations can cultivate to enhance productivity in public service workforces.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Public Administration
Vol/bind	101
Nummer	3
Sider (fra-til)	993-1013
Antal sider	21
ISSN	0033-3298
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12837
Status	Udgivet - sep. 2023

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10.1111/padm.12837

Citationsformater

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title = "Exploring the foundational origins of public service motivation through the lens of behavioral genetics",

abstract = "Despite the proliferation of research on public service motivation (PSM), fundamental questions about its origins continue to evade scholars: Is PSM driven by genetics, socialized through experiences, or both? If PSM is socialized, when does socialization occur? Answering these questions is critical for reconciling the state versus trait debate, and for assessing the validity of practical implications prescribed by PSM studies. Utilizing “nature's own experiment,” we adopt a classical twin design with 1035 twin pairs to identify how genetic heritability, a common environment, or unique environment and experiences can explain variation in PSM. Results show that PSM is heavily influenced by individuals' unique environments and experiences; not by genetics. This lends strong evidence to PSM's uniqueness as a motivational construct as related “other-regarding” concepts show sizeable genetic components. Finally, our results corroborate that PSM is a human resource with dynamic properties organizations can cultivate to enhance productivity in public service workforces.",

author = "Christoffer Florczak and Rasmussen, {Stig Hebbelstrup Rye} and Jensen, {Ulrich Thy} and Stritch, {Justin Michael} and Kaare Christensen and N{\o}rgaard, {Asbj{\o}rn Sonne} and Robert Klemmensen",

year = "2023",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1111/padm.12837",

language = "English",

volume = "101",

pages = "993--1013",

journal = "Public Administration",

issn = "0033-3298",

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Exploring the foundational origins of public service motivation through the lens of behavioral genetics. / Florczak, Christoffer; Rasmussen, Stig Hebbelstrup Rye; Jensen, Ulrich Thy et al.
I: Public Administration, Bind 101, Nr. 3, 09.2023, s. 993-1013.

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploring the foundational origins of public service motivation through the lens of behavioral genetics

AU - Florczak, Christoffer

AU - Rasmussen, Stig Hebbelstrup Rye

AU - Jensen, Ulrich Thy

AU - Stritch, Justin Michael

AU - Christensen, Kaare

AU - Nørgaard, Asbjørn Sonne

AU - Klemmensen, Robert

PY - 2023/9

Y1 - 2023/9

N2 - Despite the proliferation of research on public service motivation (PSM), fundamental questions about its origins continue to evade scholars: Is PSM driven by genetics, socialized through experiences, or both? If PSM is socialized, when does socialization occur? Answering these questions is critical for reconciling the state versus trait debate, and for assessing the validity of practical implications prescribed by PSM studies. Utilizing “nature's own experiment,” we adopt a classical twin design with 1035 twin pairs to identify how genetic heritability, a common environment, or unique environment and experiences can explain variation in PSM. Results show that PSM is heavily influenced by individuals' unique environments and experiences; not by genetics. This lends strong evidence to PSM's uniqueness as a motivational construct as related “other-regarding” concepts show sizeable genetic components. Finally, our results corroborate that PSM is a human resource with dynamic properties organizations can cultivate to enhance productivity in public service workforces.

AB - Despite the proliferation of research on public service motivation (PSM), fundamental questions about its origins continue to evade scholars: Is PSM driven by genetics, socialized through experiences, or both? If PSM is socialized, when does socialization occur? Answering these questions is critical for reconciling the state versus trait debate, and for assessing the validity of practical implications prescribed by PSM studies. Utilizing “nature's own experiment,” we adopt a classical twin design with 1035 twin pairs to identify how genetic heritability, a common environment, or unique environment and experiences can explain variation in PSM. Results show that PSM is heavily influenced by individuals' unique environments and experiences; not by genetics. This lends strong evidence to PSM's uniqueness as a motivational construct as related “other-regarding” concepts show sizeable genetic components. Finally, our results corroborate that PSM is a human resource with dynamic properties organizations can cultivate to enhance productivity in public service workforces.

U2 - 10.1111/padm.12837

DO - 10.1111/padm.12837

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0033-3298

VL - 101

SP - 993

EP - 1013

JO - Public Administration

JF - Public Administration

IS - 3

ER -

Exploring the foundational origins of public service motivation through the lens of behavioral genetics

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