ABSTRACT
Almost every writer who has taken up the question of what makes mentorships tick mentions the significance of loyalty. Embodied in the pledge to stand by another, loyalty is identified as a cornerstone of the emotional tie in the alliance—which is why it is so surprising that little has been explored on the topic. This chapter fills in the gap by looking closely at the character, dynamics, and expression of loyalty in mentorship. Emotion-based loyalty can be either positively or negatively oriented. On the positive side are emotions such as gratitude, love, idealization, desire for connection, respect, trust, and protectiveness—leading to voluntary loyalty. Mentors clearly feel torn between wanting to do well by and honor understandings they establish with protégés, but are anxious about making choices that might be perceived as a breach.
