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                                                        COMMUNES AND COMMITMENT

ROSABETH KANTER'S THEORY OF COMMITMENT
 

INSTRUMENTAL COMMITMENT

Sacrifice Mechanism

    ABSTINENCE
      Oral abstinence

      Celibacy
       

    AUSTERITY
     
      Built own buildings


Investment Mechanism

    PHYSICAL PARTICIPATION
     
      Nonresident members prohibited
       
    FINANCIAL INVESTMENT
     
      Financial contribution for admission

      Property signed over at admission

      Group assigned property received while member

      Irreversibility of investment

      Contributions not recorded

      Defectors not reimbursed for property or labor
       


AFFECTIVE COMMITMENT


Renunciation Mechanism

    INSULATION
     
      Ecololgical separation

      Institutional completeness

      Special term for outsiders

      Outside conceived as evil and wicked

      Uniform worn

      Foreign language spoken, slang used

      Outside news ignored

      Patriotic holidays ignored
       

    CROSSBOUNDARY CONTROL
     
      Members rarely leave community

      Rules for interaction with visitors
       

    RENUNCIATION OF COUPLE
     
      Free love or celibacy

      Renunciation of family

      Parent-child separation

      Families do not share homes


Communion Mechanism

     HOMOGENEITY
      Common religious background

      Similar economic and educational status

      Common ethnic background

      Prior acquaintance of members
       

    COMMUNAL SHARING
     
      Property signed over at admission

      Land, buildings, furniture owned by community

      Personal effects, clothes owned by community

      Legal title in community name

      Communal labor

      No compensation for labor

      No charge for community services

      No skills required for admission

      Job rotation

      Communal work efforts

      Regularized group contact

      Communal dwelling

      Community dining hall

      Little opportunity for privacy

      Regular group meetings
       

    PERSECUTION EXPERIENCE
     
      Violence or economic discrimination
       
       
MORAL COMMITMENT


Mortification Mechanism

    CONFESSION AND MUTUAL CRITICISM
     
      Regular confession and criticism

      Mutual surveillance

      Sanctions

      Public denouncement of deviants

      Removal of privilege of membership

      Participation in community functions prohibited
       

    SPIRITUAL DIFFERENTIATION
     
      Members distinguished on moral grounds

      Formally structured deference on those of higher moral status

      No skill or intelligence distinctions

      Instruction in community doctrines

      Learning or rules and dictates required

      New members segregated

      Formal probationary period with limited privileges
       

    DEINDIVIDUATION
     
      Uniform worn

      Communal dwelling, dining


Transcendence Mechanism

    INSTITUTIONALIZED AWE
     
      Ideology explains essential nature of humanity

      Ideology a complete, elaborated philosophy

      Power invested in persons with special powers

      Demands ligitimated by reference to a higher principle

      Special magical powers imputed to members

      Possession of special powers is evidence of good standing

      Values form ultimate justification for decisions
       

    AUTHORITY HIERARCHY
     
      Top leaders are founders or appointed by founders

      No impeachment or recall privileges

      Special leadership prerogatives and immunities

      Separate residence for leaders

      Special forms of address for leaders

      Irrational basis for decisions
       

    DETAILED SPECIFICATION OF ROUTINE
       
      Personal conduct rules


    COMMITMENT OF IDEOLOGY REQUIRED
     

      Recruits expected to take vows


    PROCEDURE FOR CHOOSING MEMBERS
     

      Tests of faith for children becoming adult members