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Organizations on the Couch:: A Clinical Perspective on Organizational Dynamics

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  • Kets de Vries, Manfred

Abstract

In this article the argument is made that unconscious dynamics have a significant impact on life in organizations. In support of that argument, the salient aspects of the clinical paradigm are introduced, motivational need systems are explored, and observations are made about the role of core conflictual relationship themes in understanding behavior. The psychodynamics of leadership are discussed, including the role of narcissism, transferential patterns, and the Monte Cristo complex. Other themes reviewed include collusive superior - subordinate relationships (such as identification with the aggressor and folie á deux) and the psychodynamics of groups (including regressive patterns such as fight - flight, dependency, and pairing behavior). The concept of social defenses -- that is, a system of relationships (reflected in the organizational or social structure) constructed to help people deal with persecutory and depressive anxiety--is introduced. This discussion is followed by a description of the characteristics of neurotic organizations. Five 'ideal' types of such organizations are identified: the dramatic/cyclothymic, suspicious, compulsive, detached and depressive organizations. Subsequently, the benefits of the clinical approach to organizational consultation and intervention are explored. Finally, a plea is made for the creation of 'authentizotic' organizations -- organizations in which people feel truly alive.

Suggested Citation

  • Kets de Vries, Manfred, 2004. "Organizations on the Couch:: A Clinical Perspective on Organizational Dynamics," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 183-200, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eurman:v:22:y:2004:i:2:p:183-200
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    Cited by:

    1. Niittymies, Aleksi & Pajunen, Kalle & Lamberg, Juha-Antti, 2022. "Temporality and firm de-internationalization: Three historical approaches," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(6).
    2. Jeremy B. Bernerth, 2022. "Does the Narcissist (and Those Around Him/Her) Pay a Price for Being Narcissistic? An Empirical Study of Leaders’ Narcissism and Well-Being," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 177(3), pages 533-546, May.
    3. Antoinette Rijsenbilt & Harry Commandeur, 2013. "Narcissus Enters the Courtroom: CEO Narcissism and Fraud," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(2), pages 413-429, October.
    4. García-Meca, Emma & Ramón-Llorens, Maria-Camino & Martínez-Ferrero, Jennifer, 2021. "Are narcissistic CEOs more tax aggressive? The moderating role of internal audit committees," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 223-235.
    5. Gilles Arnaud & Bénédicte Vidaillet, 2018. "Clinical and critical: The Lacanian contribution to management and organization studies," Post-Print hal-01591534, HAL.
    6. Khoo, Shee-Yee & Perotti, Pietro & Verousis, Thanos & Watermeyer, Richard, 2024. "Vice-chancellor narcissism and university performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(1).
    7. Calabrese, Armando, 2012. "Service productivity and service quality: A necessary trade-off?," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(2), pages 800-812.
    8. Vasant Raval, 2018. "A Disposition-Based Fraud Model: Theoretical Integration and Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(3), pages 741-763, July.
    9. Eva Crespo-Cebada & Carlos Díaz-Caro & Aurora E. Rabazo-Martín & Edilberto J. Rodríguez-Rivero, 2021. "Do Narcissistic Managers Prefer Incentive Systems Based on Financial Instruments? An Analysis Based on Choice Experiments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-13, January.
    10. Graf, Lorenz & König, Andreas & Enders, Albrecht & Hungenberg, Harald, 2012. "Debiasing competitive irrationality: How managers can be prevented from trading off absolute for relative profit," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 386-403.
    11. Nicola Pless, 2007. "Understanding Responsible Leadership: Role Identity and Motivational Drivers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 74(4), pages 437-456, September.
    12. Jin‐Ki Hong & Ji‐Hwan Lee & Taewoo Roh, 2022. "The effects of CEO narcissism on corporate social responsibility and irresponsibility," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(6), pages 1926-1940, September.
    13. Francesco Capalbo & Alex Frino & Ming Ying Lim & Vito Mollica & Riccardo Palumbo, 2018. "The Impact of CEO Narcissism on Earnings Management," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 54(2), pages 210-226, June.
    14. Russell Craig & Joel Amernic, 2011. "Detecting Linguistic Traces of Destructive Narcissism At-a-Distance in a CEO’s Letter to Shareholders," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 101(4), pages 563-575, July.
    15. Kominis, George & Dudau, Adina, 2018. "Collective corruption–How to live with it: Towards a projection theory of post-crisis corruption perpetuation," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 235-242.
    16. Matthias Pelster & Annette Hofmann & Nina Klocke & Sonja Warkulat, 2023. "Dark Triad Personality Traits and Selective Hedging," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(1), pages 261-286, January.
    17. Joel Amernic & Russell Craig, 2010. "Accounting as a Facilitator of Extreme Narcissism," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 96(1), pages 79-93, September.
    18. Lynn Godkin & Seth Allcorn, 2011. "Organizational Resistance to Destructive Narcissistic Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 104(4), pages 559-570, December.

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