Critical positions: Situating critical perspectives in work and organizational psychology. (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Islam, Gazi; Sanderson, Zoe
• Is Part Of: Organizational psychology review. Volume 12:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 34
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: work and organizational psychology -- critical psychology -- disciplinary perspectives in psychology; Psychology, Industrial -- Periodicals; Organizational behavior -- Periodicals; Psychology, Applied -- Periodicals; 158.705
• DOI: 10.1177/20413866211038044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-3866

Abstract

This paper argues that critical perspectives have constituted a marginal yet continued presence in work and organizational (W-O) psychology and calls for a reflexive taking stock of these perspectives to ground a critical research agenda. We argue that critical W-O psychology has been positioned between a psychology literature with limited development of critical perspectives, and an emergent critical management literature that has allowed their selective development. This in-between position has allowed critical W-O psychology to persist, albeit in a fragmented form, while limiting its potential for theoretical and applied impact. We use this diagnosis to reflect on how critical perspectives can best develop from within W-O psychology. We end with a call for developing a critical movement unique to the current historical moment, drawing upon without repeating the experiences of its home disciplines, in a future oriented and reflexive psychology research agenda.