{"title":"Counselling the “split subject”: a psychodynamic analysis of career dissatisfaction","authors":"P. Phillips, M. MacMahon, M. Elovikova","doi":"10.1080/03069885.2021.1999389","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The objective of our research is to analyse career dissatisfaction through the psychoanalytical lens of Jacques Lacan. Taking a multiple-case study approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven male, senior managers working in the highly competitive technology industry. We found that respondents are defining satisfaction against a socially constructed career system that obliterates the concept of an agentic self. By grounding our qualitative investigation in the research fields of career and career dissatisfaction in the under-researched realm of Lacanian theory, we extend career theory to include a psychodynamic lens. We also contribute to practice by providing an alternative approach to career counselling that encourages the client to co-construct a sense of liberation and empowerment.","PeriodicalId":9352,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Guidance & Counselling","volume":"14 1","pages":"634 - 645"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0000,"publicationDate":"2022-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"British Journal of Guidance & Counselling","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2021.1999389","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, APPLIED","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
ABSTRACT The objective of our research is to analyse career dissatisfaction through the psychoanalytical lens of Jacques Lacan. Taking a multiple-case study approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven male, senior managers working in the highly competitive technology industry. We found that respondents are defining satisfaction against a socially constructed career system that obliterates the concept of an agentic self. By grounding our qualitative investigation in the research fields of career and career dissatisfaction in the under-researched realm of Lacanian theory, we extend career theory to include a psychodynamic lens. We also contribute to practice by providing an alternative approach to career counselling that encourages the client to co-construct a sense of liberation and empowerment.
期刊介绍:
The British Journal of Guidance & Counselling exists to communicate theoretical and practical writing of high quality in the guidance and counselling field. It is addressed to an international, interdisciplinary audience and welcomes submissions dealing with diverse theoretical orientations from practitioners and researchers from around the world. It is concerned to promote the following areas: •the theory and practice of guidance and counselling •the provision of guidance and counselling services •training and professional issues