Exploring the Consumer Co-Operative Relationship with Their Members: An Individual Psychological Perspective on Ownership

It is argued in co-operative literature that a distinctive feature of consumer co-operatives is the strong linkage between customers and their co-operative organization.  Another distinctive feature identified is the nature of ownership.  Bridging these two is the claim that is the nature of ownership that creates the special bond between customers and their cooperatives.  In this theoretical paper, we elaborate this idea further, employing a psychological ownership perspective.  Limiting our work on the individual-level, we analyze co-operative literature through the definition of psychological ownership, development mechanisms, and underlying motives showing that the feelings of ownership can be an essential part of being a member.  Our concluding remarks are for the attention of both researchers and practitioners.