What is affective commitment?

Affective commitment is an employee’s emotional commitment to the organization they work for. When employees feel strong affective commitment, they will be more loyal, engaged and will work harder to realize organizational goals.

This type of commitment is often a direct result of organizational management practices. When the organization is able to create an environment where employees feel like they belong and feel supported in their wellbeing, their affective commitment will be higher.

Affective commitment is one of three components of organizational commitment, together with normative commitment and continuance commitment. Normative commitment is the feeling of moral obligation employees have through moral duty and indebtedness to the organization. Continuance commitment is the cost the employee associates with leaving the organization.