Exploring the Concept of Integrity—Toward a Craft-Inspired Interpretation
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Journal articlePeer reviewed
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Date
2017
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The concept of integrity is used as a psychosocial concept to describe tensions and dilemmas
experienced by professional and semi-professional workers in a neoliberal working life. In Norway,
the concept has even been included in the Working Environment Act. In general terms, the concept
refers to the degree to which professionals experience that their internalized professional
standards can be realized. While supporting the general relevance of integrity as an important
concept for assessing an important psychosocial challenge in Nordic working life, we propose that
integrity should not be addressed as a psychological phenomenon. We suggest that it in line with a
more sociological orientation is addressed as a craft issue. This interpretation is inspired by Richard
Sennett’s concept of craftwork. Understanding integrity as a craft phenomenon inspires workplace
critique within neoliberal work organizations.
Citation
Thomassen OJ, Strand R, Heggen KM. Exploring the Concept of Integrity—Toward a CraftInspired Interpretation. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies. 2017;7(S2):39-50Publisher
Aalborg UniversityCopyright 2017 The Author(s)