Neoliberal ideology in work and organizational psychology

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the role of neoliberal ideology in workplace practices and in work and organizational psychology (WOP) research. It analyses how neoliberal ideology manifests in these two domains by using a prominent framework from the field of political theory to understand ideology through three different logics: political, social and fantasmatic logics. We explore the main neoliberal assumptions underlying existing practices in the workplace as well as in WOP research, how individuals are gripped by such practices, and how the status quo is maintained. The paper analyses how individuals in the contemporary workplace are henceforth influenced by neoliberalism, and how this is reflected in the practices and dominant paradigms within WOP. In particular, we focus on three ways neoliberalism affects workplaces and individual experiences of the workplace: through instrumentality, individualism and competition. The paper finishes with practical recommendations for researchers and practitioners alike on how to devote more attention to the, often implicit, role of neoliberal ideology in their work and research. The discussion elaborates on how alternative paradigms in the workplace can be developed which address the downsides of neoliberalism.

KEYWORDS:

• Ideology
• neo-liberalism
• work and organizational psychology
• individualism
• instrumentality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. One such an initiative to debate the underpinnings of WOP research and develop possible futures for WOP concerns the EAWOP Small Group Meeting organized around the Future of Work and Organizational Psychology in the Netherlands in 2018. See also the EAWOP website.