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Moving away from, moving towards and moving against others : An adaptive multi-strategy approach to defend and build resources in self-protection mode

Russel, Emma ; O'Reilly, Jacqueline ; Blome, Constantin ; Bussi, Margherita ; Chung, Heejung ; Finney, Mark ; Johansson, Håkan LU ; Leon, Margarita ; Leschke, Janine and Mytna-Kurekova, Lucia , et al. (2024) In Journal of Vocational Behavior
Abstract
In the face of extreme and enduring stressors, a self-protection coping mode can be entered to conserve resources (Conservation of Resources (COR) theory principle 4). Self-protection coping is underexplored in COR theory yet may offer insights about how people deal with the significant challenges posed by work today. We investigate this using a large-group collaborative auto-ethnography (CAE) with 15 academic workers during a period when resources were severely stretched or exhausted (the first four months of the Covid-19 lockdown). We identify three defensive coping strategies, applied in self-protection mode, that are akin to Karen Horney's neurotic trends of ‘moving away from’, ‘moving against’ and ‘moving towards’ others. We also... (More)
In the face of extreme and enduring stressors, a self-protection coping mode can be entered to conserve resources (Conservation of Resources (COR) theory principle 4). Self-protection coping is underexplored in COR theory yet may offer insights about how people deal with the significant challenges posed by work today. We investigate this using a large-group collaborative auto-ethnography (CAE) with 15 academic workers during a period when resources were severely stretched or exhausted (the first four months of the Covid-19 lockdown). We identify three defensive coping strategies, applied in self-protection mode, that are akin to Karen Horney's neurotic trends of ‘moving away from’, ‘moving against’ and ‘moving towards’ others. We also identify that, even when in self-protection mode, workers engage in resource (re)investment activities, in an attempt to (re)gain control of, and (re)build resources. These multiple self-protection coping strategies are applied in a seemingly haphazard and interchangeable way but appear to serve an adaptive function for trying out how best to conserve resources, defend the self, and extend resources towards recovery. Our findings emphasize the need for organizations and society to provide support and resources at times of adversity, to help people rebuild their work, their lives and their well-being. (Less)
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Vocational Behavior
publisher
Elsevier
ISSN
1095-9084
DOI
10.1016/j.jvb.2024.104052
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e96e36cc-0f2a-4a63-84ae-1c1f5e08a588
date added to LUP
2024-09-12 09:36:10
date last changed
2024-09-12 16:11:26
@article{e96e36cc-0f2a-4a63-84ae-1c1f5e08a588,
  abstract     = {{In the face of extreme and enduring stressors, a self-protection coping mode can be entered to conserve resources (Conservation of Resources (COR) theory principle 4). Self-protection coping is underexplored in COR theory yet may offer insights about how people deal with the significant challenges posed by work today. We investigate this using a large-group collaborative auto-ethnography (CAE) with 15 academic workers during a period when resources were severely stretched or exhausted (the first four months of the Covid-19 lockdown). We identify three defensive coping strategies, applied in self-protection mode, that are akin to Karen Horney's neurotic trends of ‘moving away from’, ‘moving against’ and ‘moving towards’ others. We also identify that, even when in self-protection mode, workers engage in resource (re)investment activities, in an attempt to (re)gain control of, and (re)build resources. These multiple self-protection coping strategies are applied in a seemingly haphazard and interchangeable way but appear to serve an adaptive function for trying out how best to conserve resources, defend the self, and extend resources towards recovery. Our findings emphasize the need for organizations and society to provide support and resources at times of adversity, to help people rebuild their work, their lives and their well-being.}},
  author       = {{Russel, Emma and O'Reilly, Jacqueline and Blome, Constantin and Bussi, Margherita and Chung, Heejung and Finney, Mark and Johansson, Håkan and Leon, Margarita and Leschke, Janine and Mytna-Kurekova, Lucia and Ruffa, Chiara and Schoyen, Mi Ah and Thürer, Matthias and Unt, Marge and Verdin, Rachel and Wallace, Claire}},
  issn         = {{1095-9084}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Vocational Behavior}},
  title        = {{Moving away from, moving towards and moving against others : An adaptive multi-strategy approach to defend and build resources in self-protection mode}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2024.104052}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jvb.2024.104052}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}