Images of Death and Slavery in Organizational Life
- 1 September 1987
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Management
- Vol. 13 (3) , 529-541
- https://doi.org/10.1177/014920638701300309
Abstract
Organizational life is bounded by myths and symbols that affect the individual's behavior in mysterious ways. This paper examines the imagery of masters and slaves as a guide to the psychological dynamics of authority relationships in modern organizations. The master-slave relationship is related to the symbolic quest for immortality, and is analyzedfrom a historical and psychological perspective. Finally, its powerful imagery is connected to superior-subordinate relationships in modern organizations in order to demonstrate the continuing influence of the "irrational" in organizational life.Keywords
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