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Psychological Technologies at Work: A History of Employee Development in Denmark

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  • Peter Triantafillou

Abstract

Inspired by Michel Foucault's analysis of governmental and ethical practices, this article seeks to repoliticize the contemporary quest for employee development by analysing how the psychological technologies have been used to govern individuals and human relations at Danish workplaces since the beginning of the 20th century. It is argued that while the technologies circulating under the headings of psycho-technics and mental hygiene both assumed that the workers freely subjected themselves to managerial deliberations, it is only the employee development techniques launched from the late 1980s that take ethics, the work the individual exerts upon him- or herself and thereby his or her exercise of freedom, as their key principle of operation.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Triantafillou, 2003. "Psychological Technologies at Work: A History of Employee Development in Denmark," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 24(3), pages 411-436, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:24:y:2003:i:3:p:411-436
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X030243005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Miller, Peter & O'Leary, Ted, 1987. "Accounting and the construction of the governable person," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 235-265, April.
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