Affective Commitment refers to the employee’s emotional attachment to,
identification with, and involvement with the organization. Employees with a
strong affective commitment continue employment with the organization because
they want to do so. Continuance Commitment refers to an awareness of the costs
associated with leaving the organization. Employees whose primary link to the
organization is based on continuance commitment remain because they need to do
so. Finally, Normative Commitment reflects a feeling of obligation to continue
employment. Employees with a high level of normative commitment feel that
they ought to remain with the organization. (p. 67)