Work as affective experience: the contribution of Christophe Dejours' 'psychodynamics of work'

Article


Dashtipour, P. and Vidaillet, B. 2017. Work as affective experience: the contribution of Christophe Dejours' 'psychodynamics of work'. Organization. 24 (1), pp. 18-35. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508416668191
TypeArticle
TitleWork as affective experience: the contribution of Christophe Dejours' 'psychodynamics of work'
AuthorsDashtipour, P. and Vidaillet, B.
Abstract

Psychoanalytic perspectives (such as the Kleinian/Bionian and Lacanian literature) have made significant contributions to the study of affect in organizations. While some have pointed out the affects involved in work tasks, most of this literature generally focuses on the affects linked to organizational life (such as learning, leadership, motivation, power or change). The center of attention is not on affects associated with the work process itself. We draw from the French psychodynamic theory of Christophe Dejours – who is yet to be known in English language organization studies – to make the following contributions. First, we show the relationship between affect and working by discussing Dejours’ notions of affective suffering, the real of work, the significance of the body and ‘ordinary sublimation’. Second, we advance critical research in organization studies by demonstrating the centrality of work in the affective life of the subject. Third, the paper reinterprets Menzies’ (1960) well-known hospital case study to illustrate how Dejours’ theory extends existing psychoanalytical approaches, and especially to point to the significant role of the work collective in supporting workers to work well. We conclude by suggesting that if the centrality of work in the affective life of the subject is acknowledged, it follows that resistance strategies, and work collectives’ struggle for emancipation, should focus on reclaiming work.

KeywordsAffect, Work, Dejours, Psychoanalysis, Work collectives
PublisherSage
JournalOrganization
ISSN1350-5084
Publication dates
Online06 Jan 2017
Print01 Jan 2017
Publication process dates
Deposited19 Jul 2016
Accepted18 Jul 2016
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
License
Accepted author manuscript
Copyright Statement

Dashtipour, P., & Vidaillet, B. (2017). Work as affective experience: The contribution of Christophe Dejours’ ‘psychodynamics of work.’ Organization, 24(1), 18–35. Copyright © The Author(s) 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508416668191.
This published version of the article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508416668191
LanguageEnglish
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https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/86814

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