Affective occupational commitment (AOC) can be conceptualized as an indicator that ones' occupation has been adequately internalized within one's professional identity. From this perspective, the present study relies on the organismic integration component of Self-Determination Theory to: (1) investigate the distinctive shapes (or profiles) taken by school principals AOC trajectories; (2) test the role of work characteristics related to the satisfaction of principals' basic needs for relatedness, competence and autonomy as core drivers of their AOC trajectories; (3) document the outcome implications of these trajectories in relation to principals' job satisfaction, turnover intentions, and burnout. Using a sample of 661 established (tenure = 6 months to 38 years) school principals (Mage = 44.94; 58 % females) measured four times over a two-year period, growth mixture analyses revealed five profiles characterized by distinct AOC trajectories. Three profiles displayed High, Moderately High, or Very Low stable levels of AOC. The other profiles displayed Slowly Increasing or Slowly Decreasing levels of AOC. Higher AOC levels were also anchored in more stable trajectories, and were accompanied by higher job satisfaction and lower burnout and turnover intentions. Satisfaction of the need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness had differential short-term and long-term effects on AOC trajectories. The current study provides evidence for the malleability of AOC from a longitudinal perspective and highlights the necessary conditions to foster ideal AOC trajectories for high-level managers.

情感职业承诺（AOC）可以被概念化为一个指标，表明一个人的职业已经充分内化在一个人的职业认同中。从这个角度来看，本研究依赖于自我决定理论的有机整合部分来：（1）调查学校校长 AOC 轨迹所采取的独特形状（或轮廓）；(2) 测试与满足校长对相关性、能力和自主性的基本需求相关的工作特征作为其 AOC 轨迹的​​核心驱动因素的作用；(3) 记录这些轨迹对校长工作满意度、离职意愿和倦怠的影响。使用 661 名已建立（任期 = 6 个月至 38 年）学校校长的样本（法师 = 44.94; 58% 的女性）在两年内测量了四次，生长混合物分析揭示了以不同 AOC 轨迹为特征的五个特征。三个配置文件显示AOC 的高、中高或非常低稳定水平。其他配置文件显示缓慢增加或缓慢减少AOC 水平。更高的 AOC 水平也锚定在更稳定的轨迹上，并伴随着更高的工作满意度和更低的倦怠和离职意愿。对自主性、能力和相关性需求的满足对 AOC 轨迹具有不同的短期和长期影响。目前的研究从纵向角度为 AOC 的延展性提供了证据，并强调了为高级管理人员培养理想 AOC 轨迹的​​必要条件。