A social identity perspective on organizational citizenship behavior: Little room for discretion

Organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB) are one category of extra-role behaviors considered discretionary. However, when such behaviors are viewed through the lens of social identity theory, OCB may be regarded as demanded by in-group membership and the process of social identification. As organizational socialization is facilitated by exhibiting group-repre-sentative behaviors, the performance of OCB may not be truly discretionary at all. Utilizing the bridge offered by social identity theory between the individual to group levels of analysis, this conceptual investigation will then argue that there is little room for discretion in the performance of OCB.