A Guide to Discursive Organizational Psychology

Industrial psychology is the scientific study of human behavior in the workplace and applies psychological theories and principles to organizations. The intersections of work and non-work fuel Discourses that beget biases, inequalities, and complications. Discourses of balance and entrepreneurialism are particularly laden with inequalities and contribute to both structural inequalities and biases that inform the everyday practices of individuals. This monograph explores the ways men in technical occupations invoke these Discourses when making decisions about when and whether to take leaves of absence. Technical occupations are well known to be particularly widespread with inequities and simultaneously face a shortage of workers. As such, increasing equality in these occupations would both improve the lives of those working in technical jobs and would allow technical organizations to recruit and retain more workers.

A Guide to Discursive Organizational Psychology presents an illustration of the dynamic relationship between discourse and organizational psychology. The text include both theoretical and practical implications, including expanding connections between the Discourse of entrepreneurialism and work-life “choices” and implicating occupational identities as particularly relevant for understanding work-life policies and practices. Moreover, the tensions at the intersections of the Discourses and everyday practice result in a unique form gender inequality where men are linked to their work, unable to take leaves of absence.

This interesting Guide will a valuable guide for students or researchers as well as practitioners in the fields of psychology, organization and management studies, and provide new outlook to anyone pursuing to enhance their theoretical and operational understanding of these disciplines.