10.5465/AMBPP.2015.91 A BALANCING ACT: HOW TO AVOID PROFESSIONAL DISIDENTIFICATION WHEN FACED WITH STAKEHOLDER CRITIQUE KATE E. HORTON Rotterdam School of Management Erasmus University, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, L4-97 The Netherlands and Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil GABRIELE JACOBS Erasmus University, the Netherlands P. SASKIA BAYERL Erasmus University, the Netherlands MARLOES ROTHENGATTER Tilburg University, the Netherlands KAREN ELLIOTT Durham University Business School, the United Kingdom MILA GASCÓ Esade, Institute of Public Governance and Management, Spain STEFANIE GILJOHANN University of Applied Sciences of the State Police of Brandenburg, Germany CLAUDIA LENUTA RUS Babes-Bolyai University, Romania ABSTRACT Based on 148 interviews with European police officers, we explore the role of negative external stakeholder feedback in shaping professional identities. We find that attributional processes act as a buffer against external critique, allowing individuals to maintain positive perceptions of their profession and avoid disidentification. We discuss the implications of these findings for multi-level outcomes, including stakeholder relations and organizational learning. INTRODUCTION External stakeholders have been found to be critical in energizing workers and shaping professional practice. Indeed, research indicates that positive feedback from stakeholders motivates and inspires employees, facilitating work processes (Grant, 2011). However, research has paid little attention to the effects of negative stakeholder feedback. Given the enhanced