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Cited by 554Team Dynamics and PerformanceOrganizational Learning and LeadershipJob Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior

Psychological Safety Comes of Age: Observed Themes in an Established Literature

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Edmondson, Amy C., Bransby, Derrick P.·2023·Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior
DOI 10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-120920-055217
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Abstract

Since its renaissance in the 1990s, psychological safety research has flourished—a boom motivated by recognition of the challenge of navigating uncertainty and change. Today, its theoretical and practical significance is amplified by the increasingly complex and interdependent nature of the work in organizations. Conceptual and empirical research on psychological safety—a state of reduced interpersonal risk—is thus timely, relevant, and extensive. In this article, we review contemporary psychological safety research by describing its various content areas, assessing what has been learned in recent years, and suggesting directions for future research. We identify four dominant themes relating to psychological safety: getting things done, learning behaviors, improving the work experience, and leadership. Overall, psychological safety plays important roles in enabling organizations to learn and perform in dynamic environments, becoming particularly relevant in a world altered by a global pandemic.

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Crossref · 10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-120920-055217

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114 of 114 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. Lyman B, 2020, J. Nurs. Manag., 28, 1241
  2. Newman A, 2017, Hum. Resour. Manag. Rev., 27, 521
  3. Ortega A, 2014, J. Bus. Psychol., 29, 311
  4. Sanner B, 2015, Organ. Psychol. Rev., 5, 224
  5. Schein EH., 1993, MIT Sloan Management Review Magazine

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Authors
Edmondson, A. C., & Bransby, D. P.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
ORCID
Edmondson, Amy C.
Venue
Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Published
2023-01-23
Volume
10
Issue
1
Pages
55-78
ISSN
  • 2327-0608 (ISSN-L)
  • 2327-0616
DOI
10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-120920-055217
OpenAlex
W4308945923
Semantic Scholar
c0c3c46e3f6efbca6c20e59d9c1d90531eb37f0a
Cited by
554
References
114
Citations by year
2026: 279 · 2025: 159 · 2024: 83 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 3
FWCI
10.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Team Dynamics and Performance
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Learning and Leadership
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior
Keywords
psychological safety, organizational learning, learning behavior, leadership, work experience, organizational performance, uncertainty, change, COVID-19 pandemic, interpersonal risk, future research directions

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