Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Organizational Leadership

First Advisor

Dr. Debra J. Dean

Second Advisor

Dr. Joshua Henson

Third Advisor

Dr. Emile Hawkins

Abstract

Neuroleadership is an emerging field that seeks to connect neural mechanisms, psychological processes, and leadership behaviors within organizational contexts. Despite continued scholarly interest, the literature remains conceptually fragmented and lacks a coherent framework for organizing its recurring themes and constructs. The purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual framework for neuroleadership through a quantitative analysis of records retrieved from the PsycINFO database and interpreted through qualitative synthesis. The findings revealed recurring themes related to core leadership processes, applied contexts, and associated outcomes while also indicating thematic convergence without full conceptual integration across the field. These patterns were organized into a three-layer model comprising core conceptual domains, contextual influences, and adaptive outcomes associated with neuroleadership. This study contributes to the literature by offering a more coherent structure for interpreting neuroleadership as an emerging field of research.


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Leadership Commons

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