The document discusses the psychic prison metaphor, which depicts how people can become trapped in limited ways of thinking and perceiving reality. It originated with philosopher Plato's allegory of the cave, where prisoners saw only shadows on the cave wall. The metaphor is now used in organizational behavior, with examples like groupthink leading to poor decision making. Understanding organizations through concepts like unconscious desires, family dynamics, and symbols can provide insights, though it also has limitations like neglecting conscious ideological factors.

1. The Psychic Prison Metaphor
What is a Psychic Prison?
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A metaphor coined in 1986 by
Organizational Theorist Gareth Morgan
Intended to depict human condition of being trapped in:
• Modes of Thinking; &
• Constructions of Perceived Reality...
...That, at best, offer an “imperfect” grasp of the world...
• People may become “imprisoned”, “confined” or
“controlled” by, or within organizations

2. Plato’s ‘Cave’ Allegory
• First exploration of Psychic Prison metaphor by Greek
Philosopher Plato in his work „The Republic‟ (c. 380 BC)
• Prisoners were chained to an underground cave wall
• They could not move, or view the outside world
• Interpretation of shadows comprised their entire reality
• A liberated prisoner discovered that the world beyond the
shadows was richer, more complex & rewarding
• Upon return to cave, his experiences terrified compatriots
• He could not remain & stagnate
• They could not change or move forward
• They perceived him as “dangerous”

3. The Psychic Prison Metaphor in
Organizational Behaviour
Groupthink
What is Groupthink?
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Defined by Psychologist, Irving Janis in 1952
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Organizational, social & cultural traps that retard problem
solving by preventing recognition of alternate avenues of
thought, discussion & action
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Group illusions of invulnerability, morality & unanimity
foster “assumed consensus” which inhibit expressions of
doubt & engender misguided decision-making

4. Groupthink (examples)
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The Bay of Pigs Invasion Fiasco (1961)
• President Kennedy & his advisors developed illusions
of unanimity & invulnerability; doubts were inhibited &
suppressed
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The Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster (1986)
• After 55 successful missions NASA felt invincible
• Fatally ignored crucial warnings about
faulty equipment
•
Ireland: Ryan Report (2009) & Nyberg Report (2011)
• „National Groupthink‟ implicated as “dissenting voices
on economy & clerical child sex abuses” ignored

5. Organization & The Unconscious
• Psychoanalysts such as Sigmund Freud suggest:
• Much of visible culture reflects “preoccupations &
concerns” of the unconscious psyche
• People become psychic prisoners through repression
of their desires & thoughts
• We may try to understand & interpret these phenomena
across dimensions that include:
• Sexuality
• Family Dynamics
• Mortality
• Anxiety
• Artefacts (Objects & Symbols)
• Shadows & Archetypes

6. Organizations reflected in…
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Repressed Sexuality
Obsessive-compulsive & neurotic traits such as those
personified in Puritan Frederick Taylor directly impacted:
• The Establishment of Formal Organizations
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e. g. armies, religious orders, industrial society, bureaucracies
The Creation of „Scientific Management’
Innovations, ideas, planning & productivity
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Historical replication of Patriarchal systems occurred:
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Family Dynamics
Such Organizations were authoritarian, aggressive &
chauvinistic (negative) or brave, heroic & decisive (positive)
Matriarchal approach now seen as increasingly effective:
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Empowering Organizational trust, creativity & co-operation

7. Organizations impacted by…
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Death & Immortality
• Human beings, aware of the impermanence & vulnerability
of life, use Organizations (through culture) to:
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Search for meaning & permanency
Preserve a sense of belonging & identity
Manage, organize & motivate themselves
Imagine the achievement of immortality through recorded
beliefs, deeds, roles & material objects
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Anxiety
• Childhood development includes persecutory & depressive
phases causing adult maladaptation in Organizations via:
• Dependency: projection of leadership onto unsuitable people
• Pairing: unfulfilled expectancy of Messiah-like figures
• Fight / flight: distorted concepts of enemy / friend / competitor

8. Organizations interpreted through…
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Artefacts
• “Transitional objects” (e. g. toys) & symbolic experiences
help people cope with change. But, over-reliance may:
• Facilitate resistance to progress (e. g. hoarding of objects)
• Block creativity & innovation in Organizations
• Make effective Organizational transition impossible if not
managed correctly (needs voluntary participation & control)
• Shadows & Archetypes
• “Holistic view” of human psyche as emphasized
by Psychiatrist Carl Jung
• Archetypes (patterns & ideas) link the “collective unconscious”
to individuals & perpetuate recurring Organizational themes
• Shadows: repressed & rival instincts of individuals compete to
influence Organizational decision-making

9. Strengths & Limitations
Strengths:
Limitations:
• Assists understanding of
Organizational change
• Releases positive energies for
transformation & integration
• Understands links between
irrational & rational
• Improves holistic approach to
Organizational life
• Recognises ethical dimensions
• Neglects conscious ideological
factors of Organizational life
• Over-emphasizes cognitive
processes
• Encourages “Utopian
speculation”
• “Raises the spectre” of
“Orwellian” manipulation of the
unconscious mind
Conclusion
• The Psychic Prison Metaphor is of complex nature, combining theories
which originate in: * Philosophy * Organizational Theory * Psychiatry
* Psychology * Psychoanalysis * Sociology * Cultural Studies & others
• It may offer profound psychological insights into the nature &
complexity of Organizations both at the unconscious & conscious level