Evolutionary human resource management theory

Niki Glaveli and Chris Liasidis

Chapter 30 in Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Neuroscience and Management, 2026, pp 105-107 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Human resource management (HRM) has long relied on social and psychological theories emphasizing rationality, fairness, and reciprocity to explain employee behavior. However, these models are criticized as static and overly focused on conscious decision-making. An emerging evolutionary psychology (EPS) perspective offers a biologically informed framework for understanding implicit, adaptive mechanisms shaping workplace behavior. EPS proposes that traits such as cooperation, leadership preferences, and bias stem from evolved psychological adaptations. This approach challenges traditional HRM theories, calling for the integration of conscious and unconscious processes and offering dynamic, biologically grounded insights into organizational behavior despite empirical complexity.

Keywords: Followership; Leadership; Neuroscience; Trust; Cognitive processing; Leader–follower dynamics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035332885
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