The bored self in knowledge work
(2016) In Human Relations 69(1). p.61-83- Abstract
This article draws attention to reported experiences of boredom in knowledge work. Drawing on extensive qualitative data gathered at two management consultancy firms, we analyze these experiences as a particular interaction with identity regulation and work experiences. We conceptualize the reports of the bored self as a combination of unfilled aspirations and the sense of stagnation, leading to an arrested identity. Our contribution is to expand extant conceptualizations of employee interactions with identity regulation, in particular relating to identity work and identification. The findings provide a critical rendering of the glamourized image of knowledge work.
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https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/b627f37f-72f5-4d97-a8a7-b7bbc9600b43
- author
- Costas, Jana and Kärreman, Dan LU
- publishing date
- 2016-01-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- boredom, identity regulation, identity work, knowledge work
- in
- Human Relations
- volume
- 69
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 23 pages
- publisher
- SAGE Publications
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:84953266745
- ISSN
- 0018-7267
- DOI
- 10.1177/0018726715579736
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- b627f37f-72f5-4d97-a8a7-b7bbc9600b43
- date added to LUP
- 2016-08-30 14:00:37
- date last changed
- 2022-03-24 01:02:03
@article{b627f37f-72f5-4d97-a8a7-b7bbc9600b43, abstract = {{<p>This article draws attention to reported experiences of boredom in knowledge work. Drawing on extensive qualitative data gathered at two management consultancy firms, we analyze these experiences as a particular interaction with identity regulation and work experiences. We conceptualize the reports of the bored self as a combination of unfilled aspirations and the sense of stagnation, leading to an arrested identity. Our contribution is to expand extant conceptualizations of employee interactions with identity regulation, in particular relating to identity work and identification. The findings provide a critical rendering of the glamourized image of knowledge work.</p>}}, author = {{Costas, Jana and Kärreman, Dan}}, issn = {{0018-7267}}, keywords = {{boredom; identity regulation; identity work; knowledge work}}, language = {{eng}}, month = {{01}}, number = {{1}}, pages = {{61--83}}, publisher = {{SAGE Publications}}, series = {{Human Relations}}, title = {{The bored self in knowledge work}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0018726715579736}}, doi = {{10.1177/0018726715579736}}, volume = {{69}}, year = {{2016}}, }