Work ethic, in vocational psychology dictionary

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Dictionary of Vocational Psychology

Work Ethic

Principles of conduct governing an individual's work-related behavior. A variety of philosophical and religious traditions have provided various work ethics, formalized to varying degrees within their systems and traditions.

One prominent work ethic--the so-called Protestant work ethic--was articulated by sociologist Max Weber (1864-1920) (Weber, 1978). Perhaps it would be truer to Weber to more narrowly refer to this as the ascetic Protestant work ethic. "One of the constituents of the modern capitalistic spirit, and not only of this, but of modern civilization generally, the rational conduct of life on the basis of the idea of a calling, thus has its origins...in the spirit of Christian asceticism" (Weber, p. 169).

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