PA927-7-FY-CO:
Psychoanalysis of Groups and Organisations
2023/24
Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 28 June 2024
30
24 August 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
DIP C8N209 Management and Organisational Dynamics,
DIP C8N221 Management and Organisational Dynamics,
MA C8N212 Management and Organisational Dynamics,
MA C8N224 Management and Organisational Dynamics,
MA C8N2MO Management and Organisational Dynamics
This module provides an introduction to exploring how a psychoanalytic approach can illuminate the dynamics of groups and organisations.
The starting point, as with all psychoanalytic thought, is the unconscious- what it is, and how it influences the behaviour of groups. Following an examination of some of the classic contributions of Freud and Bion, the module progresses to develop a number of perspectives on how psychoanalytic ideas can inform an understanding of firstly, how the individual takes up a role in groups and organisations, and, secondly, how such roles are shaped by dynamic processes in groups and organisations.
This includes the role of the group or organisation as a holding environment to meet, or frustrate our dependency needs; the interplay of systems thinking and psychoanalysis; the way we use group and organisational structure to defend against anxiety; the way we internalise images of the group/organisation; how authority and power is located in the group or organisation; the impact of narcissism and oedipal dynamics on leadership and followership; and finally a consideration of the dynamics of change in groups/organisations.
The module aims are:
* To enable students to develop an understanding of group and organisational dynamics through the application of psychoanalytic concepts.
* To enable students to analyse and develop hypotheses about group and organisational scenarios based on this understanding.
* To enable students to apply an understanding of group and organisational dynamics to a variety of contexts.
By the end of the module students should be able to:
* Demonstrate an understanding of psychoanalytic concepts relevant to the structure and functioning of groups and organizations
* Engage critically with core themes of the module
* Articulate hypotheses on group and organisational behaviour, based on clear analysis and psychodynamic understanding of the group/organisational milieu
No additional information available.
All teaching is done in seminars, in which active participation is encouraged, usually in relation to texts. The seminar itself provides opportunities for psychoanalytic thinking, as the discussion build between members. Feedback on written work sharpens attention to the aims of the course. The Research Forum and supervision provides guidance on discerning research opportunities. Tutorials support intellectual and cognitive development.
For students on the MA Management and Organisational Dynamics, learning is also consolidated through a psychodynamic observation of an organisation.
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Hinshelwood, R.D. (1987) ‘Suffering the experience’, in What happens in groups: psychoanalysis, the individual and the community. London: Free Association Books, pp. 23–29.
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Hinshelwood, R.D. (1987) ‘Understanding in action’, in What happens in groups: psychoanalysis, the individual and the community. London: Free Association Books, pp. 30–37.
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Rees, J. (2000) ‘Food for Thought - The Canteen of a Mental Hospital’, in
Observing organisations: anxiety, defence, and culture in health care. London: Routledge. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203135150.
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Freud, S.
et al. (1953) ‘Volume 18: Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego’, in
The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud. London: Hogarth Press and the Institute of Psycho-Analysis. Available at:
https://pep-web-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/browse/document/SE.018.0000A.
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Stokes, J. (1994) ‘What is unconscious in organisations?’, in What makes consultancy work: understanding the dynamics. London: South Bank University Press.
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Pick, D. (no date) ‘Freud’s “Group Psychology” and the History of the Crowd’,
History Workshop Journal, (40), pp. 39–61. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/4289386.
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Rioch, M. (1975) ‘The Work of Wilfred Bion on Groups’, in Group relations reader. Sausalito, Calif: GREX, pp. 21–35.
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Bion, W.R. (2001)
Experiences in groups: and other papers. Hove: Brunner-Routledge. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=179104.
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Gordon Lawrence, W., Bain, A. and Gould, L.J. (1996) ‘The fifth basic assumption’,
Free Associations, 6(1), pp. 28–55. Available at:
https://pep-web-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/search/document/fa.006a.0028a.
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Chrzanowski, C.S. (2019) ‘The Group’s Vulnerability to Disaster: Basic Assumption and Work Group Mentalities Underlying Trump's 2016 Election’,
The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 100(4), pp. 711–731. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/00207578.2019.1591159.
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Menzies Lyth, I. (1988) ‘The Functioning of Social Systems as a Defence Against Anxiety: a report on a Study of the Nursing Service of a General Hospital’, in Containing anxiety in institutions: selected essays, volume 1. London: Free Association, pp. 43–85.
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Jacques, E. (1995) ‘Why the Psychoanalytical Approach to Understanding Organisations is Dysfunctional’,
Human relations, 48(4), pp. 343–349. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/001872679504800401.
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Amando, G. (1995) ‘Why Psychoanalytic Knowledge Helps Us to Understand Organisations: A discussion with Elliott Jaques’,
Human relations, 48(4), pp. 351–335. Available at:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/001872679504800402.
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De Board, R. (2014)
The psychoanalysis of organizations: a psychoanalytic approach to behaviour in groups and organizations. Dual ed. New York: Routledge. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315752662.
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Roberts, V. (1994) ‘Chapter 4: The organisation of work: contributions from open systems theory’, in
The Unconscious at work: individual and organizational stress in the human services. London: Routledge. Available at:
https://www.taylorfrancis.com//books/e/9781351104166.
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Obholzer, A. and Roberts, V.Z. (eds) (2019)
Chapter- Beyond the Individual ( In ‘ The Unconscious at Work’). 2nd Edition. | New York?: Routledge, 2019. | Revised edition of The Unconscious at work, 1994.: Routledge. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351104166.
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Van Buskirk, W. (1999) ‘Organizational Cultures as Holding Environments: A Psychodynamic Look at Organizational Symbolism’,
Human Relations, 52(6), pp. 805–832. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/001872679905200606.
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Cooper, A. and Dartington, T. (2004) ‘The Vanishing Organisation: organisational containment in a networked world’, in
Working below the surface: the emotional life of contemporary organizations. London: Karnac. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.4324/9780429485237.
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Hinshelwood, R. (1994) ‘Chapter 4: Attacks on the Reflective Space’, in
Ring of fire: primitive affects and object relations in group psychotherapy. London: Routledge. Available at:
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=97233&site=ehost-live.
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Armstrong, D. and French, R. (2005)
Organization in the mind: psychoanalysis, group relations, and organizational consultancy?: occasional papers 1989-2003. London: Karnac. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.4324/9780429478079.
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Hoggett, P. (1998) ‘The Internal Establishment’, in
Bion’s legacy to groups: selected contributions from the International Centennial Conference on the Work of W.R. Bion?: Turin, July 1997. London: Karnac Books. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.4324/9780429472497.
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The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Formative essay |
|
0% |
| Coursework |
Essay |
|
100% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Mr Chris Tanner, email: chris.tanner@essex.ac.uk.
Mr Chris Tanner
Student Administrator 5A.202; Tel: 01206 873745
Email: ppspgt@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Dr Annette Clancy
UCD College of Business
Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour & Management
Dr Parisa Dashtipour
Open University
Lecturer in Psychology
Available via Moodle
Of 46 hours, 42 (91.3%) hours available to students:
4 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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