Inverting the pyramid of needsPositive psychology’s new order for labor success

  1. Edgar Cabanas 1
  2. José-Carlos Sánchez González 2
  1. 1 Max Planck Institute for Human Development
    info
    Max Planck Institute for Human Development

    Berlín, Alemania

    ROR https://ror.org/02pp7px91

    Geographic location of the organization Max Planck Institute for Human Development
  2. 2 Universidad de Oviedo
    info
    Universidad de Oviedo

    Oviedo, España

    ROR https://ror.org/006gksa02

    Geographic location of the organization Universidad de Oviedo
Journal:
Psicothema

ISSN: 0214-9915

Year of publication: 2016

Volume: 28

Issue: 2

Pages: 107-113

Type: Article

DOI: 10.7334/PSICOTHEMA2015.267 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Psicothema

Sustainable development goals

Abstract

Antecedents: Positive psychologists claim to have demonstrated a causal relationship between happiness and life success, with the former accounting for why people usually end up better off in life than others, especially at workplace. Method: In this paper we will analyse the role that happiness-based repertoires and techniques provided by positive psychologists are playing in the current labor sphere. Results: Positive psychologists’ repertoires and techniques do not only meet the emerging demands derived from the changes in the notions of “work” and “worker” in the last decades, but also introduce a whole new logic in the construction of professional workers’ subjectivity, according to which happiness becomes a necessary psychological state that workers must first achieve and develop in order to attain job success at work. Discussion: This emerging logic does not only circumscribe to the labor sphere, but also reflects a broader cultural and economic phenomenon.

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