Research
Multiple lines of evidence support the ethical framework of Anchor Relationships, including in-depth interviews with field experts and “moral exemplars,” combined with research from philosophical and psychological literature. The following resources demonstrate the theoretical and empirical grounding for Anchor Relationships:
Moral Excellence: A Study of How Business Leaders Stay True to Themselves, a study conducted at University of Pennsylvania based on structured interviews with exemplars who satisfied a 3-part participation criteria: the ability to articulate their values; having served in a leadership role affecting the wellbeing of at least 20 people; and having demonstrated a willingness to put personal or organizational gains at risk to uphold their values.
Aristotelian Ethics: Book 8 of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics explores friendship and its essential role in human flourishing and ethical development. Translations and interpretations of Aristotle’s writings include: John M. Cooper’s, “Aristotle on Friendship” (examining Aristotle's classification of friendship types and their ethical implications); Dale Jacquette’s “Aristotle on the Value of Friendship as a Motivation for Morality” (how friendship serves as a catalyst for moral behavior); and Timothy Yoder’s “Aristotle and CS Lewis on the Moral Significance of Friendship” (exploring different perspectives on friendship and its moral importance).
Relationship Motivation Theory: RMT addresses the psychological needs required for flourishing relationships: relatedness, autonomy, and competency (Deci & Ryan, 2014). RMT supports the three qualities of an Anchor Relationship:
Mutual investment in growth: According to Deci and Ryan (2014), high-quality relationships feature reciprocal autonomy support between partners. Studies demonstrate that both giving and receiving support satisfies psychological needs, with the act of giving support to a partner's development sometimes contributing even more strongly to personal well-being than receiving it. This creates a virtuous cycle where actively nurturing another's growth enables both individuals to reach their full potential.
Enhancement of Self-efficacy and Courage: Need-satisfying relationships build psychological strength and resilience. Studies show these relationships foster a more secure sense of attachment and greater overall well-being, creating a foundation of confidence. When partners experience autonomy support, they demonstrate enhanced ability to navigate challenges, becoming less defensive and more understanding during disagreements. This courage to face difficult situations extends to handling inevitable relationship conflicts more effectively. The psychological freedom provided by these supportive relationships empowers individuals to take risks and make difficult choices aligned with their values, knowing they have a secure base of support (Deci & Ryan, 2014).
Connection to Deeper Virtues and Ethics: Quality relationships enable authentic expression of one's values and principles. Studies show that across diverse cultures, people report greater ability to be authentic and act in accordance with their ideal selves when with autonomy-supportive partners. The research draws a critical distinction between relationships where affection is conditional upon compliance versus those that respect individual autonomy, highlighting how quality relationships allow people to remain true to their values rather than compromising them for acceptance. When relationships are based on non-contingent valuing—loving others for who they truly are rather than for instrumental purposes—they create space for ethical behavior rooted in genuine principles. This stands in contrast to relationships where partners are valued primarily for external attributes or what they can provide, which undermines authentic ethical expression (Deci & Ryan, 2014).
Social Connection and Prosocial Behavior: Weinstein and Ryan (2010) found that when people feel securely connected to others who support their autonomy, they are more likely to engage in prosocial behaviors.
Social Learning Theory: Bandura's work (1986) explains how people learn moral behavior through observation and modeling.
Social Intuitionist Theory: Haidt's research (2001) shows how moral intuitions are shaped by close social groups.
High-Quality Connections and research into how positive relationships improve wellbeing and productivity in the workplace (Dutton & Ragins, 2007).
The Center for Positive Leadership at University of Louisville’s definition of positive leadership as occurring when individuals inspire others through the exemplary display of virtues relevant to a given situation.
Special thanks to Andrew Soren, Arlen Solodkin, Rephael Houston, Ryan Quinn, Ramie Martin-Galijatovic, Ozge Kantas Yorulmazlar, and many others whose support has been invaluable.
