Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCharacteristicsBenefits and DrawbacksHow to Build Loyalty
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Characteristics
Benefits and Drawbacks
How to Build Loyalty
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Loyalty is a virtue we value inrelationshipswith family, friends, romantic partners, workplaces, organizations, religions, and nations.But what is loyalty, and why is it important?
This article explores the characteristics, benefits, and drawbacks of loyalty, as well as some strategies to build loyalty in relationships.
—SABRINA ROMANOFF, PSYD, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND PROFESSOR, YESHIVA UNIVERSITY
Characteristics of Loyalty
Loyalty is faithfulness, dedication, honesty, trust, and support in a relationship, says Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University in New York City. It requires an emotional commitment and engenders a sense of identity. Below, Dr. Romanoff explains some of the characteristics of loyalty.
Steadfastness and Support
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Consistency
Loyalty means being consistent in your treatment, behavior, and regard for another—beingtheperson they can always count on. Loyalty also involves consistently treating the other person with kindness, fairness, and generosity of spirit.
Honesty and Transparency
Beingvulnerableand not hiding parts of your identity or parts of your life are important aspects of loyalty. People who share their thoughts and feelings display a willingness to be known and to know others in an authentic, open way.
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Benefits and Drawbacks of Loyalty
Loyalty can have both benefits and drawbacks, as Dr. Romanoff explains.
Benefits of Loyalty
Loyalty canstrengthen relationshipsbecause people are more honest and forthcoming when they know the other person is loyal. It engenders trust and closeness in relationships.
Sabrina Romanoff, PsyDRelationships with loyalty are stronger because both people can be themselves and share what they’re experiencing without fear that the other person will abandon them.
Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD
Relationships with loyalty are stronger because both people can be themselves and share what they’re experiencing without fear that the other person will abandon them.
This is true for romantic, work, family, and social relationships. When we feel others are loyal to us, we can be authentic and take off the socially acceptable filters that we tend to display our behaviors through.
Loyalty helps buildsupport, which is important for mental, emotional, and physical well-being.Knowing you have people who have your back and will be there for you when you need them can help you feel secure.
Drawbacks of Loyalty
Loyalty can be harmful when your allegiance to the other person becomes consistently detrimental to you.
Some people remain in relationships that no longer serve them. In these instances, their sense of loyalty can cause them to become exploited or abused. Although loyalty is an important trait, it should never be used against someone.
Someone who is loyal can have difficulty recognizing when someone they love ismanipulatingthem. An outside perspective from a friend, family member, colleague, or therapist who has their best interests at heart can be helpful.
You can’t always sever relationships completely, butsetting boundarieswith people who are taking advantage of your loyalty is important.
Signs Someone Is Using You
Dr. Romanoff suggests these tips—and some time—to help build loyalty.
Why Trust Matters in Your Relationship and How to Build It
A Word From Verywell
Loyalty can help build strong relationships,social support, and mutual emotional health. Being honest, supportive, respectful, and appreciative fortifies this all-important building block of a committed relationship.
3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.Loyalty.Hong JW, Hong AJ, Kim SR.Exploring implicit and explicit attitudes of employees’ authentic organizational loyalty.Front Psychol. 2021;12:666869. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.666869Harandi TF, Taghinasab MM, Nayeri TD.The correlation of social support with mental health: A meta-analysis.Electron Physician. 2017;9(9):5212-5222. doi:10.19082/5212
3 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.Loyalty.Hong JW, Hong AJ, Kim SR.Exploring implicit and explicit attitudes of employees’ authentic organizational loyalty.Front Psychol. 2021;12:666869. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.666869Harandi TF, Taghinasab MM, Nayeri TD.The correlation of social support with mental health: A meta-analysis.Electron Physician. 2017;9(9):5212-5222. doi:10.19082/5212
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.Loyalty.Hong JW, Hong AJ, Kim SR.Exploring implicit and explicit attitudes of employees’ authentic organizational loyalty.Front Psychol. 2021;12:666869. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.666869Harandi TF, Taghinasab MM, Nayeri TD.The correlation of social support with mental health: A meta-analysis.Electron Physician. 2017;9(9):5212-5222. doi:10.19082/5212
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.Loyalty.
Hong JW, Hong AJ, Kim SR.Exploring implicit and explicit attitudes of employees’ authentic organizational loyalty.Front Psychol. 2021;12:666869. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.666869
Harandi TF, Taghinasab MM, Nayeri TD.The correlation of social support with mental health: A meta-analysis.Electron Physician. 2017;9(9):5212-5222. doi:10.19082/5212
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