Paying it forward: Mentoring Beyond the Dyad

Organizational mentoring relationships have been theorized as reciprocal relationship where both parties provide a number of benefits and support to each other (Kram, 1985; Ragins, 2011). Social exchange theory conceptualizes reciprocity as a series of direct exchanges between two parties in a dyadic relationship (Blau, 1964). However, research has not shown that both parties provide or receive direct benefits in mentoring relationships (Allen, 2007). This paper will integrate two additional forms of reciprocity, generalized and indirect reciprocity, into the mentoring literature to further our understanding of why individuals serve as a mentor.