CPOS reading group

The CPOS reading group provides those interested in organizational, psychoanalytic, and political theories with an opportunity to expand their knowledge in specific topic areas. Attendees include students, faculty, and community members.

Participants read a series of 4-5 papers/chapters each spring and fall, and meet every third Thursday, September through May, to discuss the papers in the context of psychosocial organization studies.

Discussions are facilitated by CPOS associates and conducted in English.

The monthly meeting is held online. If you’d like participate in the CPOS reading group please email Mindy Duncan: admin@surfacingtheorganization.com.

Discussion format

We use the thought circles in the diagram below to structure how we think through, and discuss, the readings. Each circle represents a perspective that we bring to the psychosocial study of organizations.

  • Clinician – moving psychoanalysis out of the consulting room
  • Educator – incorporating psychoanalysis into theories of teaching and learning
  • Manager – infusing theories of management with psychosocial thinking
  • Consultant – practicing psychodynamic organizational consultation
  • Researcher – thinking psychosocially about modes of research and participants’ experiences

This image illustrates the connection of clinician, researcher, consultant, manager, and educator to organizations as a central idea. CPOS reading group participants typically have at least one of these roles.

This model acknowledges that scholars and practitioners use psychoanalytic and psychosocial theories, or that they could, whether they are primarily clinicians, educators, managers, consultants, or researchers. And, that very often we hold multiple roles all intersected by a psychosocial approach to studying organizations.

Current theme

Expanding the psychosocial: Care, caring, and trauma in organizations

Past themes

  • Psychosocial debates: Locating organization studies 
  • Maternal Eros: (De)vitalization in working relationships
  • Critical psychoanalysis: Race, society, and organizations
  • Critiques
  • Countertransference
  • Therapeutic aims
  • Associate papers
  • Qualitative research